QGD: 4.Bg5 Be7 5.cxd5 Nxd5

QGD: 4.Bg5 Be7 5.cxd5 Nxd5

Definition

This move-sequence is a branch of the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD). It arises after: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. cxd5 Nxd5. By exchanging on d5 White voluntarily trades the c-pawn for Black’s d-pawn and Black recaptures with the f6-knight instead of the e6-pawn. The resulting middlegame is often classified under the Exchange Variation of the QGD but differs from the classical Carlsbad structure because Black’s knight, not a pawn, now occupies d5.

Move-by-Move Explanation

1. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6. The standard Queen’s Gambit Declined set-up.
2. 3. Nc3 Nf6. Black develops and keeps the d-pawn defended.
3. 4. Bg5. The Lasker–Capablanca Pin; White increases pressure on f6 and indirectly on d5.
4. 4…Be7. The main antidote—Black calmly breaks the pin and prepares …h6 if necessary.
5. 5. cxd5. White decides to clarify the centre immediately, aiming for a long-term structural edge.
6. 5…Nxd5. Instead of the routine 5…exd5, Black chooses the modern recapture with the knight, keeping the pawn chain intact and reducing the danger of an isolated pawn later.

Strategic Themes & Plans

• Carlsbad-lite Structure. Because Black’s pawn is still on e6, neither side owns an isolated pawn yet, but typical ideas from the Carlsbad structure (minority attack, e4 break, …c5 break) remain relevant.
• Piece Play on d5 & c-files. The knight on d5 can be both a strength and a tactical target. White often challenges it with Nxd5, Bxe7, or e2-e4.
• Minority Attack. If the position later locks into a genuine Carlsbad pawn structure (c-pawns vs. c- and b-pawns), White’s b-pawn advance (b4–b5) is a standard minority operation.
• Central Breaks. White: e2-e4; f2-f3 followed by e3-e4. Black: …c5, …e5 or even …f5 after castling.
• Piece Activity vs. Structure. Black’s recapture with the knight gives dynamic piece play but concedes White a slight spatial plus and a half-open c-file.

Historical Context

The move 5…Nxd5 became popular in the mid-20^th century as grandmasters searched for ways to avoid the “bad bishop” that often haunted Black in the classical Exchange Variation (5…exd5). Akiba Rubinstein, Emanuel Lasker, and later Anatoly Karpov used the knight recapture to keep the e7-bishop active and to postpone structural commitments.

Today the line remains in the repertoires of solid 1…d5 players from club level all the way up to elite grandmasters such as Peter Leko, Anish Giri, and Fabiano Caruana.

Typical Continuations

• 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. e3 O-O 8. Nf3. The quiet main line leading to symmetrical pawn structures and manoeuvring battles.
• 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Rc1. White immediately occupies the half-open c-file.
• 6. Nxd5 exd5 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. e3. Transposes to a pure Exchange-Carlsbad where Black’s e6-pawn has now moved to d5.
• 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. e4! A sharper scheme grabbing central space; Black must react accurately with …Nxc3 or …Nb6 and …c5.

Illustrative Games

• Capablanca – Lasker, World Championship ( Game 11 ), Havana 1921

  The first World Championship game to feature the knight recapture. Lasker equalised effortlessly and drew, illustrating Black’s solid prospects.

• Kasparov – Karpov, Linares 1993

  Karpov adopted 5…Nxd5 as a surprise, steering the game into the quieter strategic waters he preferred. Kasparov’s ambitious e4-plan left him with an isolated pawn that Karpov eventually targeted to secure the full point.

Practical Tips

• For White
  • Prepare e2-e4 carefully; premature advances may leave d4 weak.
  • Don’t forget the minority attack even when Black’s knight sits on d5; the structural cues are similar.
  • Exchange on d5 only when it nets a clear gain—for example, forcing doubled pawns or winning a tempo.
• For Black
  • The d5-knight is central; keep it supported by …c6, …Nd7, or …f5 ideas.
  • Counter in the centre with …c5 at a convenient moment to free your position.
  • Avoid passive setups; the whole point of 5…Nxd5 is to keep active piece play.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The move 5…Nxd5 earned the nickname “Rubinstein Recapture” in some early texts because Akiba Rubinstein employed it repeatedly in the 1920s.
• Although the line is considered solid, a young Bobby Fischer once lost rapidly with Black after choosing a faulty plan against Ivkov, Havana 1965—proof that quiet does not equal risk-free.
• Computer engines rate the resulting positions very close to equality, yet the practical score in master play shows White scoring about 54 %, largely thanks to the easier long-term plan of the minority attack.