QGA: 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 cxd4

QGA: 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 cxd4

Definition

This line belongs to the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA), an opening that begins 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4, where Black temporarily grabs the c4-pawn. After the developing move 3.Nf3, Black strikes back in the center with 3…c5, and following 4.e3, Black captures once more with 4…cxd4. The sequence therefore reads:

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 cxd4

Key Ideas & Strategic Themes

• Central Tension: By playing 3…c5 Black immediately challenges the d4 pawn and seeks a symmetrical structure.
• Pawn Structure: After the usual continuation 5.exd4, the resulting pawn skeleton (White pawns on d4, e2; Black pawn on c4) resembles the Panov-Botvinnik formation from the Caro-Kann, but with colors reversed.
• Bishop Development: Black’s light-squared bishop, often the problem piece in queen’s pawn openings, finds freedom on the a3-f8 or b4-e7 diagonals once …e6 is played.
• Isolated Queen’s Pawn Possibilities: If White later recaptures on c4 with the bishop (Bc4) and advances d4-d5, an IQP may arise, giving White space at the cost of a long-term weakness.
• Transpositional Richness: The variation can transpose to the Tarrasch Defence, the Semi-Tarrasch, or even certain Meran-style Slav structures depending on when …e6 and …Nf6 appear.

Typical Continuations

1. 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Bxc4 e6 7.O-O Nc6 — classical main line; Black keeps the extra c4-pawn for the moment and races to finish development.
2. 5.exd4 Be6 6.Na3 Nc6 7.Nxc4 — modern treatment in which White wins back the pawn without allowing …b5.
3. 5.exd4 Be6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bg5 — White pins the knight and prepares long-term pressure against the IQP should it arise on d5.

Historical & Theoretical Background

• The move 3…c5 was popularised in the 1960s by Soviet grandmasters such as Evgeny Vasiukov and later refined by Anatoly Karpov, who appreciated its solid yet dynamic character.
• World-Championship level encounters—including Karpov – Kasparov, Moscow 1985—featured this system, lending it top-tier credibility.
• Computer engines evaluate the resulting positions as roughly equal, but practical chances abound for both sides because of the imbalanced pawn complexes.

Illustrative Game

Viswanathan Anand – Levon Aronian, Linares 2007
A textbook demonstration of White’s central majority versus Black’s queenside pawn mass.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Because the structure can mirror the Panov-Botvinnik, some theoreticians jokingly dub it “The Caro-Kann Reversed.”
• Database statistics show that the move 4.e3 yields a slightly higher scoring percentage for White than the flashier 4.e4, highlighting the quiet move’s practical sting.
• In correspondence chess, engines initially overrated Black’s queenside pawn majority; modern analysis now confirms that the extra pawn rarely survives, but the initiative it grants Black is fully sufficient for equality.

Practical Tips

• For White: Try to recapture the c4-pawn with Bxc4 before Black consolidates with …b5. If Black keeps the pawn, convert your central majority by pushing d4-d5 at the right moment.
• For Black: Use the tempo gained by pawn captures to develop quickly—especially the light-squared bishop—and be ready to strike the center with …e5 or support the extra pawn with …b5.
• Endgame Outlook: If the queens come off and Black still clings to the c4-pawn, the resulting rook endgames are often winning for Black thanks to the far-advanced passer.