Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit

One of the reasons white plays d4 in this opening is to control the center and potentially create a passed pawn. By advancing the pawn two squares, it puts pressure on black's pawn on d5 and potentially gives white more space to maneuver their pieces. Additionally, it can lead to several variations of the Queen's Gambit, where white offers a pawn to gain a lead in development and potentially more control over the center of the board.

Black plays d5 in response to d4 to also contest control of the center and potentially create a pawn chain with pawns on c6 and e6. This move also helps to develop the queen's bishop and potentially the knight on c6. By playing d5, black can also increase their control over the center and limit white's options to advance their pawns in that area. In sum, d5 is a common move in response to d4 and leads to a variety of openings, including the Queen's Gambit Declined.

White plays c4 to gain even more control over the center and secure their pawn on d4. This move also prepares for the possibility of offering a pawn with dxc5, known as the Queen's Gambit, which can lead to various pawn structures and positional advantages for white. By playing c4, white also frees their queen's bishop and potentially the knight on c3 to develop. Additionally, c4 creates potential threats on black's pawns and pieces if they are not adequately defended or prepared for.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, Black plays e6 after white's c4 to control the square d5, not allowing a pawn to occupy that square. By playing e6, black also prepares to develop their bishop on the same color complex diagonals as their queen, and can also potentially support a pawn advance to d5. In addition, e6 can help to prevent any forks with the knight on c6 and the bishop on g5. Lastly, in some variations of this opening, black may aim to advance their f-pawn to f5 in the future, and e6 sets up that possibility.

White plays Nc3 to control the square d5, which can be a critical central square. By playing Nc3, white also prepares to develop their knight to its most natural square on d2, where it can defend the pawn on e4 and support a potential pawn advance to f3. Additionally, Nc3 frees their queen's bishop, which can then be developed to put pressure on black's position. Nc3 also prepares to castle kingside, allowing white's king to be safely tucked away behind several pawns. Lastly, Nc3 can put potential pressure on black's knight on f6, as well as set up potential tactics in the future by supporting a bishop to pin or attack black's queen.

Black plays Nf6 in response to Nc3 to also contest control of the center and develop a piece. By playing Nf6, black also prepares to castle kingside, and potentially support an attack on white's pawn on e4. Additionally, Nf6 can help to set up a "pawn chain" with pawns on d5 and f6. Nf6 can also potentially support a pawn advance to e5, which can give black more space and free movement for their pieces. Lastly, Nf6 can also pressure white's pawn on c4 by attacking it with the knight.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, White plays Bg5 to pin black's knight on f6 and potentially force a positional concession from black. By playing Bg5, white also puts additional pressure on black's pawn on e6 and prepares to apply pressure along the d-file if black plays dxc4. Additionally, Bg5 can help to control key central squares and limit black's options for counterplay. Lastly, Bg5 can also potentially set up tactical opportunities if black does not respond accurately, such as a discovered attack on black's king if a knight moves to f6 to defend against the pin.

Black plays Be7 to unpin their knight on f6 and potentially limit white's tactical possibilities. By playing Be7, black also develops a piece and prepares to castle kingside. Additionally, Be7 protects the pawn on d5, making it more difficult for white to gain control over the center. Be7 also allows the possibility of the knight to move to g6 and support an eventual pawn advance to f5, which can give black more space and free movement for their pieces. Lastly, Be7 can prepare to support a pawn push to e5 if the opportunity arises.

White plays e3 to solidify their pawn on d4 and potentially prepare for a pawn advance to e4, creating a pawn chain in the center of the board. By playing e3, white also frees up their queen's bishop and potentially prepares to castle kingside. Additionally, e3 can help prevent any potential tactics with a bishop or knight on c6 attacking the pawn on d4. e3 also prepares to potentially recapture with the pawn on d4 if black captures with the knight on c3. Lastly, e3 can help to support the pawn on c4, preventing tactics involving black's pawn on d5.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, Black plays O-O to safely tuck their king behind a wall of pawns and activate their rook on h8. By playing O-O, black also prepares to potentially move their queen to f6 or g6 to increase pressure on white's position. Additionally, castling kingside can help solidify black's position and protect against potential tactics involving a rook or queen attacking along the e-file. Lastly, castling kingside can help in connecting the rooks, allowing them to support one another and potentially swing over to the queen side if necessary.

White plays Nf3 to develop a piece and prepare to castle kingside, where their king will be safer. By playing Nf3, white also supports the pawn on e3 and controls the square d5, which is a key central square. Additionally, Nf3 can potentially support a pawn advance to d5 if the opportunity arises. Importantly, Nf3 also helps to prevent any potential tactics involving a knight and bishop attacking the king-side, and allows white to potentially develop their queen's bishop to f4, putting additional pressure on black's position. Lastly, Nf3 helps to further prepare the position for the middle game, potentially controlling key squares and paving the way for other pieces to come into play.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, Black plays h6 to prevent any potential future threats from white's bishop on g5. By playing h6, black also gains some additional control over the g5 square, which could be important in hindering any potential tactics involving a knight or bishop moving to that square. Moreover, h6 can help to prevent any potential forks involving the knight on f6 being attacked by a pawn on g5 after a bishop capture on f6. Additionally, h6 can also create a luft, or "air", for the king to potentially escape to if necessary. Lastly, h6 can help to prepare for an eventual pawn advance to g5 by black, which can help in gaining more space and supporting further development of their pieces.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, White plays Bh4 to keep up the pressure on black's position. By playing Bh4, white supports the bishop on g5 and potentially prepares to exchange it for black's knight on f6, which can weaken black's pawn structure. Additionally, Bh4 can help to prepare an eventual pawn advance to g3, creating a pawn chain with pawns on f2, g3, and h4. Moreover, Bh4 can also potentially support a future queen advance to h5, putting pressure on black's position and potentially setting up tactics. Lastly, Bh4 prevents any potential threats of a pawn fork on g4, by taking away the g5 square from attackers.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, Black plays Ne4 to attack white's bishop on g5 and potentially gain control over the center of the board. By playing Ne4, black also develops a piece and potentially gains some control over the d6 square, which can support an eventual pawn advance to e5. Moreover, Ne4 can potentially create some tactical threats, as it attacks the bishop and potentially sets up tactical possibilities involving a pawn fork on f2. Additionally, Ne4 can put pressure on white's pawn on c3, potentially creating weaknesses in white's pawn structure. Lastly, Ne4 can prevent white's knight on f3 from recapturing the bishop on g5, due to the knight being pinned by the black bishop on e7.

White plays Bxe7 to take advantage of the pin on black's knight on f6 and potentially exchange off an actively placed piece. By playing Bxe7, white also gains control of the d5 square and potentially prepares to push their pawn to d5. Additionally, Bxe7 can help in simplifying the position and potentially removing any threats that black's knight on e4 may pose. Moreover, Bxe7 can potentially set up a tactical possibility, as white's queen can move to d5 and attack both black's knight on e4 and the pawn on d5. Lastly, Bxe7 can help free up the queen's bishop, which can be developed to put pressure on black's position or support a potential pawn advance on the queen-side.

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