QGA: 3.e3 c5
QGA: 3.e3 c5
Definition
“QGA: 3.e3 c5” is a branch of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA) that arises after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 c5. Instead of the more classical 3…Nf6 or 3…e5, Black strikes at the center with the c-pawn, immediately challenging White’s hold on d4 and setting the stage for an early exchange on d4 that frequently leads to an isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) structure for White. This line is catalogued in ECO as D24.
Typical Move-Order & Early Branches
The most common continuations are:
- 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Bxc4 e6 (main line)
- 4.Bxc4 cxd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nf3 e6 (transposes)
- 4.d5!? b5 — the sharp Pawn-snatch Variation where White keeps the extra c-pawn at the cost of development.
Whichever move order is chosen, the strategic core is the same: will White’s eventual isolated d-pawn be a strength (space, activity) or a weakness (endgame liability)?
Strategic Significance
By playing …c5 at once, Black:
- Accelerates the fight for the center, making it difficult for White to recover the c4 pawn without concessions.
- Aims for a quick exchange on d4, heading for an IQP position where the plans are well charted and piece activity often outweighs structural weaknesses.
- Keeps options open for piece development; after …Nf6 and …e6, Black can place the light-squared bishop on e7, d6 or – after …b6 – b7.
Plans, Ideas & Piece Placement
For White
- Regain the pawn smoothly: Bxc4 is usually played before recapturing on d4 to avoid giving Black tempi.
- Exploit the IQP:
- Use the pawn on d4 to secure outposts on e5 & c5.
- Launch a kingside initiative with moves like Re1, Qe2, Rd1 and sometimes d5.
- Avoid mass exchanges; the IQP thrives in the middlegame but can be weak in the endgame.
For Black
- Neutralize White’s activity: timely …Bb4+, …Nc6 & …Qa5 target d4 and c3.
- Pressure the IQP: pile up on d4 and exchange pieces, steering the game toward an endgame where the pawn becomes a liability.
- Break with …e5 (or sometimes …cxd4 followed by …e5) to liquidate the center on Black’s terms.
Model Game
A modern illustration is Fabiano Caruana – Levon Aronian, Candidates 2018. After 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Bxc4 e6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 Nc6 10.a3 Aronian slowly whittled down the d-pawn and won a fine endgame.
Historical Notes
• Carl Schlechter experimented with 3…c5 as early as 1904,
but it was Alexander Alekhine who popularized it in the
1920s, which is why some older texts call it the Alekhine Variation of
the QGA.
• The line fell out of fashion during the Botvinnik era (who preferred the
sharper 3.Nf3 lines) but experienced a revival in the 1990s with the
advent of computer preparation. Players such as Vladimir
Kramnik, Peter Svidler and Levon
Aronian reintroduced it to elite play.
• It is a favorite of club players who enjoy clear-cut strategic themes
without excessive memorization.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Because the symmetry can persist for several moves, grandmasters have joked that “3…c5 is Black’s way of asking White whether they feel like playing the Tarrasch Defence with colors reversed.”
- In the 2014 Sinquefield Cup, Fabiano Caruana began his legendary 7-0 start with a victory over Veselin Topalov in this very line, prompting a surge of interest among amateurs.
- The variation’s ECO code, D24, sits exactly between D22 (QGA: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3) and D26 (QGA: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3) – a reminder that one accurate transposition can shuffle the opening tree dramatically.
Quick Reference
- Opening family: Queen’s Gambit Accepted
- ECO code: D24
- Main ideas: Early …c5, fight for d4, potential IQP for White
- Typical pawn structure: Isolated queen’s pawn (White d-pawn) or symmetrical Carlsbad-type if the IQP is avoided
Further Study
Compare with other QGA systems:
- QGA: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 – the “safe” QGA where Black delays …c5.
- QGA: 3.e4 e5 – the sharp Central Variation.
- Tarrasch Defence – similar IQP themes reached from the Queen’s Gambit Declined.