QGD: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 — Orthodox Defence
QGD: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (Queen’s Gambit Declined – Orthodox Defence with 3.Nf3)
Definition
The move sequence 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 leads to the Orthodox Defence of the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD). Black declines the offered c-pawn, develops the king’s knight to f6, and neutralises White’s pin on the f6-knight with 4…Be7. Compared with the more common 3.Nc3 move order, White first places a knight on f3, maintaining flexibility in the centre while avoiding early …Bb4 pins.
Move Order & Position
After the first four moves the illustrative position is:
- White pieces: King g1, Queen d1, Rooks a1 h1, Knights b1 f3, Bishops c1 g5, pawns a2 b2 c4 d4 e2 f2 g2 h2.
- Black pieces: King e8, Queen d8, Rooks a8 h8, Knights b8 f6, Bishops c8 e7, pawns a7 b7 c7 d5 e6 f7 g7 h7.
The position is balanced and highly theoretical, serving as a spring-board for many sub-variations such as the Lasker Defence (…h6 …Ne4), the Tartakower–Makagonov–Bondarevsky System (…b6), and the Capablanca Simplifying Variation (…dxc4 followed by …c5 and …Nc6).
Strategic Themes
- Central Tension: Both d-pawns confront one another. White often aims for e2-e3 followed by Nc3 and Rc1, preserving long-term central pressure.
- Light-Square Strategy: The pinning bishop on g5 eyes the e7-pawn and discourages …e6-e5 breaks. Black’s light-squared bishop, tucked on e7, prepares …h6 and eventual …Ne4 or …dxc4.
- King Safety: Because pieces are exchanged slowly, both sides usually castle short, after which manoeuvring battles ensue in the centre and on the queenside.
- Piece Activity vs. Solidity: White enjoys slightly more space; Black counts on a rock-solid structure and well-timed pawn breaks (…c5 or …e5) to equalise.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Complete development with e3, Nc3, Rc1, Qc2 or Qb3, Rd1.
- Consider the minority attack b4–b5 against Black’s queenside.
- Maintain the Bg5 pin or trade on f6 to generate structural pressure.
- For Black
- Break with …c5 or …e5 to fight for the centre.
- Play …h6 followed by …Ne4, exchanging the annoying Bg5.
- Adopt the Capablanca line …dxc4 and …c5, freeing the light-squared bishop.
Historical Significance
The Orthodox Defence is one of the oldest recorded defences to the Queen’s Gambit. World Champions Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, and Anatoly Karpov all used it as part of their main repertoires. Its reputation for solidity made it the workhorse defence in numerous classical world-championship matches, including Capablanca–Alekhine (1927) and Karpov–Korchnoi (1978).
Illustrative Game
Capablanca vs. Alekhine, World Championship (Game 7), Buenos Aires 1927
Capablanca employed the 3.Nf3 move order to avoid Alekhine’s favourite Cambridge Springs Defence. Although the game ended in a draw, it highlighted Black’s thematic …b6 and …c5 plan.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The name “Orthodox” stems from 19th-century manuals that dubbed 4…Be7 the “correct” or “orthodox” way to meet the bishop pin, in contrast to the then-experimental Cambridge Springs (…Qa5) or Lasker (…h6 …Ne4) treatments.
- In modern databases, the 3.Nf3 move order has resurged because it sidesteps Nimzo-Indian defences, making it a practical weapon for players who open with both 1.d4 and 1.Nf3 move orders.
- During the Kasparov–Karpov matches (1984-1990), the variation appeared dozens of times; Karpov relied on its resilience under the most intense analytical scrutiny of the pre-computer era.
When to Add to Your Repertoire
Choose 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 if you appreciate strategic, manoeuvring middlegames with few early tactical landmines. Black players looking for a tried-and-tested, highly theoretical defence that scales from classical to rapid and blitz will also find it rewarding.