QGA: 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6
QGA: 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6
Definition
This line arises in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted after the moves
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Nc6.
It is most commonly classified as the Central Variation with …e5 and …Nc6 (ECO D25–D27).
By striking back in the centre with 3.e4, White immediately seizes space and threatens to recover the pawn on c4, while Black counters with …e5 to cement central influence.
The tabiya after 5…Nc6 features an open position in which both sides race to complete development and fight for the d5- and e4-squares.
Typical Usage
Players choose this variation when they want:
- Open, tactical play – rapid piece activity and sharp possibilities abound.
- An alternative to the main-line 3.Nf3 QGA structures, avoiding the heavy theory of the traditional 4.a4 & 5.e3 systems.
- Surprise value – although respected, the Central Variation occurs far less frequently than the Carlsbad-style QGA positions.
Strategic & Tactical Themes
- Central Tension – after 5…Nc6, the pawn duo d4–e4 confronts Black’s c- and e-pawns. Both sides must evaluate breaks such as …Nf6, …Bb4, or cxd4 from Black and d5 or e5 from White.
- Piece Activity vs. Pawn Structure – White accepts an isolated pawn possibility (after d4xd5) in return for rapid development and active bishops; Black relies on a solid pawn chain and counter-pressure against e4.
- d5 Outpost – if White succeeds in planting a knight on d5 (often after d4-d5), it can be extremely powerful, but Black often uses …Be6 or …Bb4+ to discourage or exchange that knight.
- Open Files – the half-open e- and d-files become critical highways for the rooks. Knowing when to trade queens is a recurring decision.
- King Safety – because both kings usually castle short, attacks along the h-file (Bh4, Qh5) or c-file (…Rc8, …Nb4 to c2) appear in many games.
Historical Context
The idea 3.e4 was already analysed by Steinitz in the late 19th century but was considered risky because Black could break with …e5. Interest revived in the 1970s thanks to Viktor Korchnoi, who employed the variation in his Candidates matches. Modern grandmasters such as Fabiano Caruana, Richard Rapport, and Ian Nepomniachtchi have used it to surprise well-prepared opponents, bringing fresh analytical attention to the line.
Typical Continuations
- 6. O-O Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6 – double pawns give Black the bishop pair and open the f-file.
- 6. O-O Nf6 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.e5 Na5 – a sharp line where both sides attack weak pawns (c4 and d4).
- 6. Qb3 Qe7 7.O-O Be6 8.Qxb7 Rb8 9.Qxc6+ Qd7 – the so-called “Poisoned Pawn” variation, extremely tactical.
Illustrative Game
Caruana – Anand, Tal Memorial, Moscow 2012
Caruana sacrificed a pawn to keep the initiative and eventually won after a kingside attack, illustrating how dangerous White’s lead in development can be if Black is careless.
Trivia & Anecdotes
- Because the sequence 3.e4 e5 mirrors the first two moves of the Open Game (1.e4 e5) but with colours reversed, players sometimes joke that the line is a “Scotch Opening upside down.”
- In a 2021 online blitz event, Magnus Carlsen used this variation twice in the same match, winning both games in fewer than 25 moves—proof that even at the elite level, the line can create practical problems.
- Engine evaluations fluctuate dramatically with each tempo in the early middlegame, making the variation a favourite testing ground for modern neural-network engines such as Stockfish and Leela.
Key Takeaways
- The move order 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 leads to one of the most dynamic branches of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
- White plays for rapid development and central space; Black banks on structural solidity and counter-punching chances.
- Precise calculation is mandatory—one misstep can tilt the evaluation several points in either direction.