Learn 3...e5 against 3.e4
Play 3...e5 against the Central Variation in your next 10 games. You score 37.5% in that line now.
← chesspieler / Openings
Queen's Gambit
You take the pawn against the Queen's Gambit, then give White the centre.
Score46%−3% vs your average
Win chance after move 1247%−5% vs your average
Blunders per game1.32+0.09 vs your average
Clock left at move 102:29−11s vs your average
1
23
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
dcba1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
What it says about you
White plays 2.c4, and you usually accept with 2...dxc4. That shows a practical attitude: you would rather take material and simplify than learn the long theory of the Declined. The downside is that the Accepted gives White the centre if you do not know what to do with it.
How you play it
This is your worst opening start: a win chance of 47.1 at move 12 and 48.7 at move 20, well below your baselines of 52.1 and 54.1. You are also slow at 148.7s at move 10, and your early errors are high (0.61 per game). The Central Variation with 3.e4 scores 37.5% over 16 games, the Declined 40.0%, and the Accepted main line 45.0%. You score 46.3% overall, but 80.0% over the last 10 games, which is promising. You converted 35 of 56 winning games (63%).
Last 90 days: 10 games, 80% score.
What you're missing
- 01
The Central Variation (3.e4 Nf6) scores 37.5%. After 4.e5 your knight gets pushed around and White keeps a big centre.
- 02
Early positional mistakes: 9...c5 instead of 9...Qd5 went from 36 to 14 with 158.6s left. You are making early decisions without a plan.
- 03
Missed combinations: 12...a5 (39 to 11) and 12...Nxf6 instead of 12...gxf6 (32 to 12). Tactics are coming at move 12 because your development is behind.
- 04
21 of your 43 losses were timeouts, more than any other ending. Your slow start at move 10 contributes to this.
How to improve it
- 01
Against 3.e4, play 3...e5! 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6. It fights for the centre immediately and is the standard answer. 3...Nc6 and 3...c5 are also good alternatives.
- 02
In the classical Accepted (3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3), play ...e6, ...c5 and ...a6. Do not try to keep the c4 pawn with ...b5, which is a known loss of time.
- 03
Get your pieces out before starting pawn moves like ...a5. At move 12 you are often still behind in development in these lines.
- 04
Your recent improvement (80.0% over 10 games) suggests you are learning. Look at what changed and make it permanent.
Where it goes wrong
Your losses in this opening, by where and how the decisive mistake happened.
Phase of the decisive mistake
What the mistake was
Variations you reach
| Accepted Central Variation Alekhine System | 16 | 38% |
| Declined | 10 | 40% |
| Accepted | 10 | 45% |
| Accepted Old Variation | 5 | 60% |
| Declined Queen's Knight Variation | 5 | 30% |
| Declined Modern Variation | 4 | 75% |
Winning positions converted here: 63% (35 of 56).
Recent mistakes in this opening
Your move in red, Stockfish's in black.
123
4
5
6
7h8gfedc
bavs shubhangchess (1551) · 20-09-26 →
123
4
5
6
7h8gfed
c
bavs shubhangchess (1551) · 20-09-26 →
123
4
5
67
h8
gfe
dc
b
avs bondpojken (1557) · 17-09-26 →
1
23
4
5
67
h8
gfe
d
c
b
avs georgehatzialexis (1463) · 06-09-26 →
Next steps
Stop defending the c4 pawn
Give the pawn back and develop with ...e6, ...c5 and ...Nc6. Chasing it costs you time and development.
Review your last 10 games
Work out why you scored 80% recently and write down the key setup. Then play it every time.
Drill it
Puzzles built from your own mistakes in the Queen's Gambit, and every game you've played in it.