Queens Gambit Accepted — Smyslov Variation
Queen's Gambit Accepted – Smyslov Variation
Definition
The Smyslov Variation is a branch of the Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA) characterized by Black’s early bishop pin …Bg4 after White plays 4.e3:
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4.
The line is named for 7th World Champion
Vasily Smyslov, who explored it extensively in the 1940-50s.
Historical Significance
- Smyslov revitalized the QGA at a time when 4…e6 was considered almost obligatory. His idea was to place the dark-squared bishop outside the pawn chain before committing …e6.
- The variation surged in popularity during the 1954 World Championship match (Smyslov-Botvinnik), and it still appears in modern praxis, notably with players such as Peter Svidler and Alexei Shirov.
- It offers an alternative to the heavily analysed 4…e6 systems, giving Black fresh piece play rather than immediate structural solidity.
Typical Move Order & Key Branches
Core position after 4…Bg4:
- 5.Bxc4 e6 6.h3 Bh5 (6…Bxf3!? 7.Qxf3) 7.O-O = Main Line
- 5.h3 (immediate unpin) …Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Qxb7 Nbd7
- 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bxc4 Nbd7 – a quieter development scheme
Strategic Themes
- Piece Activity vs. Structure: Black wagers that quick piece development (especially the Bg4 pin and an early …c5 or …e5 break) compensates for conceding the center.
- The “Outside Bishop” Dilemma: After 5.h3 or 6.h3, the bishop may retreat to h5/f5 or exchange on f3. Choosing when to trade often decides the middlegame plan.
- Pawn Breaks: Typical Black ideas include …c5, …e5, and sometimes …b5 to preserve the extra pawn. White strives for e4 or Ne5, using a lead in development to punish Black’s momentarily loose queenside.
- Endgame Edge? If White wins back the c-pawn without concession, the resulting symmetrical pawn structure often yields a slight but nagging initiative for White, echoing classical QGA endgames.
Illustrative Game
Smyslov vs. Botvinnik, World Championship 1954 (Game 10)
A textbook demonstration of the variation’s flexibility—Smyslov (White!) showed the positional bite of the system he popularised with Black:
White exploited the misplaced bishop and lack of pawn cover to launch a direct kingside assault, culminating in mate on h7.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Smyslov first unveiled the idea in 1940 at age 19, defeating Soviet master Ilya Kan—proof of his intuitive feel for harmonious piece placement.
- The line occasionally transposes to the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) after 4…e6 5.Bxc4 Bg4, but the true “Smyslov” identity stems from 4…Bg4 before …e6.
- Engine evaluations hover around equality, yet practical results favour Black slightly in databases—perhaps because White players underestimate the latent counterplay.
- Modern correspondence and rapid games show experiments with early g4 by White, aggressively questioning the bishop and steering play into sharp channels.
When to Choose the Smyslov Variation
Ideal for Black players who:
- Prefer piece activity and are comfortable with dynamic, unbalanced positions.
- Want to sidestep theory highways like the 4…e6 QGA main lines or the Slav complex.
- Enjoy endgames—many Smyslov games transpose to simplified, bishop-pair positions where accurate technique is rewarded.
Further Study
Look up games by Smyslov, Shirov, Svidler, and the 2021 FIDE Grand Prix for recent high-level treatments. The ECO code most commonly associated is D27.