QGA: 3.Nc3 c5 — Queen’s Gambit Accepted
QGA: 3.Nc3 c5
Definition
“QGA: 3.Nc3 c5” designates a Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA) sub-variation reached after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 c5. The initials “QGA” tell us Black has accepted the gambit pawn on c4, while the move sequence “3.Nc3 c5” pin-points the exact branching point: White develops the queen’s knight to c3 on move 3, and Black immediately counters in the centre with …c5, offering to return the extra pawn for quick piece play and space.
Typical Move Order
The most common early continuations are:
- 1. d4 d5
- 2. c4 dxc4 (the pawn on c4 is taken—Queen’s Gambit Accepted)
- 3. Nc3 c5 (our tabiya—Black strikes back in the centre)
- 4. Nf3 (or 4. d5, 4. e3, 4. e4) …
Strategic Ideas
- Counter-Gambit Spirit. By playing …c5, Black is ready to sacrifice the extra pawn to seize central squares, often reaching an Isolated Queen’s Pawn (IQP) structure after …cxd4 and …e6/e5.
- Rapid Development. The c8-bishop can come out to g4 or f5, while Black’s queen knight often lands on c6 or d7 to support breaks like …e5.
- Central Tension. White must decide whether to hold the d4-square
with 4. Nf3 or push 4. d5, each choice creating different pawn
skeletons:
- 4. d5 leads to a Benoni-esque structure after …Nf6 when Black may fianchetto the king’s bishop.
- 4. Nf3 keeps options open; if Black later plays …cxd4 followed by …Nc6 and …e5, an IQP position arises.
- Re-sacrificed Pawn. In many main lines (e.g. 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6) Black hands back the c-pawn, equalising development and freeing activity for both bishops.
Historical Context
While 3. Nf3 and 3. e4 have always been the principal replies to the QGA, 3. Nc3 became fashionable in the 1970s and 80s when players such as Anthony Miles and Bent Larsen looked for ways to keep the game unbalanced. The immediate …c5 was one of the key counter-ideas, and for that reason the line is sometimes nick-named the Miles Counter-Gambit inside analytical circles, though no official ECO code exists exclusively for 3…c5 (it falls under D20–D21).
Model Games
- Kasparov – Miles, Tilburg 1984 (The young Kasparov demonstrated how 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qxc4 can lead to a small but lasting space edge for White.)
- Domínguez – Svidler, Wijk aan Zee 2011 (Black equalised comfortably with an IQP after 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8.)
Illustrative Line
You can click the miniature below to play through a concise sample:
Common Plans
- For White
- Recapture the pawn at c4 with the queen or bishop once development is secure.
- Push d4–d5 to claim space, converting the centre into a locked structure where the extra space has long-term value.
- Target the potentially weak d5 or e6 squares after Black plays …e6.
- For Black
- Break with …e5 (sometimes …e6 followed by …e5) to generate play against White’s d4/d5 chain.
- Use the half-open b- and e-files for rook activity after an eventual exchange of queens (quite common in this variation).
- Exploit the c- and d-file tension to liquidate into an equal or superior endgame.
Typical Pawn Structures
The variation pivots between three main pawn skeletons:
- Isolated Queen’s Pawn (IQP). Arises after …cxd4 and mutually exchanged queens.
- Benoni-type. After 4. d5, the board resembles a Modern Benoni but with the c-pawns already exchanged, giving Black rapid kingside fianchetto possibilities.
- Symmetrical Centre. If White refrains from d4–d5 and Black recovers the pawn early, the game can return to a calm QGD-style symmetrical centre.
Practical Advice
- Clock Management. Because positions open quickly, both sides should avoid time trouble; tactical shots based on loose queens and uncastled kings appear frequently.
- Theory Depth. 3…c5 is less exhaustively analysed than mainstream QGA lines (3. e4 or 3. Nf3), making it attractive as a surprise weapon, especially at club level.
- Flexible Setup. White players unfamiliar with the subtleties can default to 4. e3, 5. Bxc4 and reach a small but safe plus.
Trivia & Anecdotes
- Tony Miles reportedly prepared 3…c5 overnight before his famous victory with Black against then-World Champion Anatoly Karpov in Skara 1980 (though the line did not appear on the board).
- In some databases, the move 3…c5 scores marginally better for Black in rapid and blitz time controls than in classical play, hinting at its surprise value: .
Summary
QGA: 3.Nc3 c5 is an energetic, partly off-beat system in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. By returning the pawn at will, Black accelerates development and strives for dynamic equality, while White benefits from a modest lead in space and the initiative if prepared to navigate the early central fireworks. The line is historically linked to creative grandmasters seeking unbalanced play and remains a worthy practical choice for both colours.