Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a popular opening played by black against 1. d4. In this article, we will explore each move and the theory behind it, as well as typical plans for both sides.
50%
50%
winrate
0%
This line (17 moves) is played in approximately 1 out of every 1000 games
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a solid and popular opening for black against the queen's pawn opening. It starts with 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 and avoids the sharp lines of the Queen's Gambit. Instead of committing to an early exchange of pawns, 7. Rc1 develops the rook to a useful square and prepares to castle.
Moving on, 7...b6 is a flexible move that prepares to control the c5 square and also allows black to develop the bishop to b7 and put pressure on the d5 pawn. Black is giving up the center but is trying to establish a solid position.
The Pillsbury Variation, continuing with 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 brings the bishop out to a strong diagonal, eyeing the weak f7 square and potentially pressuring the e6 pawn. The position is symmetrical but black is solid and has well-coordinated pieces.
One of the strengths of this opening is that black has a solid position with good piece play. The pawn structure is sound and black is able to counterattack in the center or on the queenside.
A weakness of this opening is that black can sometimes struggle to find sufficient counterplay if white manages to establish a strong pawn center. Black may also have to deal with a potentially weak d5 pawn.
In sum, the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a popular and solid opening choice for black. However, it does require a good understanding of the pawn structures and piece play in order to navigate to a successful midgame.
d4
+0.14
The first move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense is 1.d4. With this move, White aims to control the center of the board and prepare for the development of their minor pieces. d4 also allows White to gain space on the board and limit Black's options in the early stages of the game. By occupying the central squares with their pawn, White threatens to advance further with e4, gaining even more control of the board. This move also puts pressure on Black's position and forces them to decide how to respond.
Nf6
+0.64
After White plays 1.d4 and controls the center, Black wants to challenge their dominance by playing Nf6. This move aims to attack White's pawn on d4 and helps Black to develop their own pieces. By placing the knight on f6, Black also aims to control important central squares and prepares to castle their king to safety. Nf6 is a flexible move that can lead to various openings and defenses, allowing Black to adapt to White's playstyle. By putting pressure on White early on, Black aims to gain a more even position and create opportunities for counterplay.
c4
-0.12
After 1.d4 Nf6, White plays c4 in order to continue their control of the center by attacking Black's pawn on d5. This move aims to open up space for White's minor pieces and prepares for their development. By playing c4, White also gains more space on the board and restricts Black's options. Additionally, c4 prepares White for a possible pawn break with d5, which can lead to a strong central pawn duo. This move also puts pressure on Black to make a decision on how to respond, further increasing the complexity of the game.
e6
+0.63
In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation, Black typically plays e6 after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 and 2.c4. This move aims to reinforce Black's control over the d5 square and prepare for the development of their bishop. By playing e6, Black also creates a pawn chain with d5, which can provide stability to their position. This move also helps to restrict White's pawn on c4, preventing it from advancing further and gaining more space. Additionally, e6 prepares for a possible pawn break with f5, which can lead to active counterplay for Black. In sum, e6 is a flexible move that allows Black to adapt to White's playstyle and create a solid foundation for their pieces.
Nc3
-0.13
After 1.d4 Nf6 and 2.c4 e6, White plays Nc3 in order to develop their knight and prepare for the further occupation of the central squares. This move also helps to support White's pawn on d4, which is being attacked by Black's knight. By playing Nc3, White threatens to push their pawn forward to d5, which can lead to the creation of a strong central pawn duo. This move also prepares for White's fianchetto of the king's bishop and allows White to castle kingside. Additionally, Nc3 puts pressure on Black to make a decision on how to respond, further increasing the complexity of the game.
d5
+0.42
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, and 3.Nc3, Black usually plays d5 to challenge White's control over the center of the board. By playing d5, Black also attacks White's pawn on c4 and gains more space for their pieces. This move helps to create a pawn chain that provides stability to Black's position and also allows Black's bishop on c8 to be developed. Additionally, d5 can lead to the exchange of pawns, which can simplify the position and make it easier for Black to reach a comfortable game. This move also allows Black's knight to be developed to c6, which can put more pressure on White's central pawn on d4.
Bg5
+0.02
In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation, White often plays Bg5 after 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, and 3.Nc3 d5. This move aims to attack Black's knight on f6, which can disrupt Black's control over the center of the board. By playing Bg5, White also pins Black's knight and limits their options for developing their pieces. Additionally, Bg5 prepares for the further occupation of the center with moves like e3 and dxc5. This move can also create potential weaknesses in Black's pawn structure if they capture the bishop with their pawn on f6. Furthermore, Bg5 puts pressure on Black to make a decision on how to respond, increasing the complexity of the game.
Be7
+0.58
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, and 4.Bg5, Black commonly plays Be7 in order to develop their bishop and increase the control over the central squares. This move also allows Black to castle kingside, which provides additional safety to their king. By playing Be7, Black also prepares for potential exchanges on d5, which can simplify the game and make it easier for Black to control the center. Additionally, Be7 helps to prepare for the further development of Black's knight on c6, which can attack White's central pawn on d4. This move is a flexible response that can adapt to various positions and defenses, making it an important move to understand for any chess player.
e3
+0.08
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, and 4.Bg5 Be7, White often plays e3 to reinforce their pawn on d4 and provide additional support for the bishop on g5. This move also prepares for the development of White's light-squared bishop to d3, which can become a powerful attacking piece. By playing e3, White aims to create a solid pawn chain with d4 and prevent Black from gaining space in the center of the board. Additionally, e3 prepares for potential pawn exchanges with dxe4, which can create an isolated pawn on d4 that White can use as a target for attack. This move also helps to protect White's knight on c3, allowing it to maneuver to other positions on the board.
O-O
+0.69
In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation, Black often plays O-O after 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, and 5.e3. This move aims to improve the king's safety by castling to the kingside, which is typically the safest side to castle in the opening phase of the game. By playing O-O, Black also prepares their rook on f8 to be connected with the rook on e8, which can play an important role in controlling the central files. Additionally, castling helps to create a solid pawn chain near the king, providing stability and potential protection from attacks by White's pieces. This move can also free up Black's queen and allow for the deployment of other minor pieces. Furthermore, O-O puts pressure on White to find an effective plan for attacking Black's king, which can disrupt their development if not handled properly.
Nf3
-0.08
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, and 5.e3 O-O, White commonly plays Nf3, which completes the development of their knight and prepares for the occupation of the central squares. This move also supports White's pawn chain with e3 and d4, and prepares for potential pawn advances with g3 and d5. By playing Nf3, White also clears the way for the development of their light squared bishop, which can become an important attacking piece. Additionally, Nf3 protects White's king from potential attacks by Black's pieces and allows White to potentially castle kingside or queenside. This move also puts pressure on Black to find a way to equalize the position and create opportunities for counterplay.
Nbd7
+0.63
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e3 O-O, and 6.Nf3, Black often develops their knight on b8 to d7. This move aims to prepare for the development of the other knight to c6, which can help to further control the central squares. By playing Nbd7, Black also aims to protect their pawn on c5, which can become a target for White's pieces. This move also allows Black to potentially exchange their knight on f6 with White's knight on d5, which can improve Black's pawn structure and create opportunities for counterplay. Additionally, Nbd7 frees up Black's queen on d8 and prepares for the further development of their pieces. This move is a flexible response that can adapt to various positions and defenses, making it an important move to understand for any chess player.
Rc1
+0.35
In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation, White commonly plays Rc1 after 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e3 O-O, and 6.Nf3 Nbd7. This move aims to prepare for the occupation of the open c-file and create potential threats to Black's position. By playing Rc1, White also aims to free up their queen's bishop and prepare for its development to d3 or b5. Additionally, this move helps to control the central squares and prepare for potential exchanges on c4, which can create weaknesses in Black's pawn structure. Furthermore, Rc1 can also prepare for the further advancement of White's pawn on c4, gaining more space and cramping Black's pieces. This move is an important part of White's development and can help to create a strong position early on in the game.
b6
+0.81
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e3 O-O, 6.Nf3 Nbd7, and 7.Rc1, Black often plays b6 in order to prepare for the development of their bishop to b7. This move also aims to prevent White's knight on c3 from occupying the important square on b5. By playing b6, Black also creates a potential threat to White's pawn on c4, which can be captured if White moves their bishop to a3. Additionally, b6 prepares for the development of Black's queen's side pieces, such as the rook on a8 and the knight on c6. This move can also create potential weaknesses in White's pawn structure if Black is able to exchange pawns on c4. Furthermore, b6 puts pressure on White to find an effective plan for advancing their pieces and creating opportunities for attack.
cxd5
+0.27
After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e3 O-O, 6.Nf3 Nbd7, and 7.Rc1 b6, White often plays cxd5, which allows for a potential pawn exchange in the center of the board. By playing cxd5, White aims to open up the position and create opportunities for their pieces to become more active. This move also weakens Black's pawn structure by creating an isolated pawn on the c-file, which can become a target for White's pieces. Additionally, cxd5 prepares for the development of White's light-squared bishop to the c4-square, which can become a powerful attacking piece. This move also puts pressure on Black to find an effective way to respond and create opportunities for counterplay. Furthermore, cxd5 can prepare for the potential occupation of the d5-square, which can give White more control over the central squares.
exd5
+0.79
This move is not described yet.
Bd3
0
This move is not described yet.
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a popular and solid choice for black. The opening typically goes as follows:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3.
Black has now developed all their minor pieces and is ready to start playing in the center. Depending on the move order, black can often play ...c5 to challenge white's center and open up lines for their pieces.
An important idea in this opening is to use the well-placed bishop on d3 to pressure the e6 pawn and potentially trade it for the bishop on e7, which can be somewhat passive.
In sum, it's important to keep in mind the solid and positional nature of the opening, and to look for opportunities to generate counterplay in the center or on the queenside.
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a solid opening for black, but there are ways for white to create imbalances and generate play:
One idea is to advance the pawn to e4 to attempt to open up lines and gain more control over the center.
Another option is to play f3 and g4 to create a kingside attack and potentially force weaknesses in black's position.
It's also important for white to be aware of tactics involving pawn breaks, such as ...c5 or ...f5.
In sum, white should aim to establish a strong pawn center and look for ways to disrupt black's piece coordination, while also being mindful of potential counterattacks on the queenside.
The pawn structure in Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is symmetrical, with pawns on d5 and e6 for both sides.
White has a slight space advantage due to the pawn on c4, but black can still counterattack on the queenside.
A key dynamic to watch out for is the tension in the center, as either side may try to break it open with moves like ...c5 or e4.
Black's bishop on e7 can be somewhat passive, but can later come to life if the e6 pawn is traded.
In sum, the pawn structure is solid and flexible, though either side should be prepared for potential changes as the game develops.
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a solid and positional opening choice for black against the queen's pawn. With well-coordinated pieces and a flexible pawn structure, black can aim for counterplay on the queenside and in the center. The Pillsbury Variation offers an interesting option for black with the bishop on d3, although white still has ways to create imbalances and generate play. The opening can often lead to complex middlegames with both sides battling for control of the center and potential pawn breaks. Success in this opening requires good understanding of the pawn structures and piece play. In the hands of skilled players, it can be a great tool to achieve dynamic play or solid positions. In sum, Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation is a great opening to add to one's repertoire, whether playing for a win or for a draw.
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation in brief
Eco code : D63
Solid position
good counterplay
symmetrical piece placement
Possible struggles with pawn center
slightly passive position
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