Queens Gambit Declined Forgotten Variation

Queen’s Gambit Declined – Forgotten Variation

Definition

The Forgotten Variation is a rarely played branch of the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) in which Black develops the king’s-bishop to e7 on move three, omitting the customary ...Nf6 for a tempo or two:

  1. 1. d4 d5
  2. 2. c4 e6
  3. 3. Nc3 Be7

Because it disappeared from top-level practice for much of the 20th century, modern authors began referring to it as the “Forgotten” or “Neglected” Variation. In ECO it is catalogued under the codes D30–D31.

Typical Move Order and Ideas

A frequently seen continuation is: 

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Be7        (Forgotten Variation)
4. Nf3 Nf6
5. Bg5 h6
6. Bh4 O-O
7. e3 b6           (preparing ...Bb7)
8. Rc1 Bb7
9. cxd5 exd5
  • Black’s concept: by delaying ...Nf6, Black sidesteps early pins with Bg5 and keeps the f-knight flexible. The bishop on e7 also guards g5, making ...h6 lines more robust.
  • White’s concept: exploit the extra central space and the fact that Black’s light-squared bishop is slightly passive. Early cxd5, Qb3, or Bf4 are common plans.
  • Transpositional value: after 4...Nf6 the game can transpose to the Orthodox Defence, but Black still retains the option of non-standard Queen’s-side setups such as ...b6/...Bb7 or ...c6 followed by ...dxc4.

Strategic Themes

  • Central tension: Unlike the Orthodox Defence, Black often keeps the pawn on d5 longer, waiting for the right moment to release the centre with ...dxc4 or ...c5.
  • Minor-piece manoeuvres: The e7-bishop may later re-route to f6, g5 or even h4, while the c8-bishop commonly seeks activity via ...b6 and ...Bb7.
  • Slower pawn breaks: Because the queen’s knight usually stays on b8 until ...c5 or ...Nbd7 is viable, both sides enjoy an extra tempo to organise their pieces compared with mainstream QGD lines.
  • King-side breathing room: The immediate Be7 makes the move ...h6 less weakening, reducing White’s attacking chances in lines where the bishop stays on f8.

Historical Background

The line surfaced in the late 1800s, championed sporadically by Curt von Bardeleben and Akiba Rubinstein. By the 1920s, however, the Orthodox and Cambridge-Springs systems overshadowed it, and it virtually vanished—hence the “Forgotten” label coined by mid-century theoreticians. With database technology and engines re-evaluating quiet sidelines, players such as Nigel Short, Alexander Morozevich, and several correspondence grandmasters have revived it as an anti-theoretical weapon.

Model Game

Short’s creative use of the variation in the mid-1980s illustrates its potential for dynamic play:

[[Pgn| d4|d5|c4|e6|Nc3|Be7|Nf3|Nf6|Bg5|h6|Bh4|O-O|e3|b6|Rc1|Bb7|cxd5|exd5|Bd3|Nbd7|O-O|Ne4|Bxe7|Qxe7|Qb3|Nxc3|Rxc3|c5|arrows|c4d5 b7e4|squares|e4]]

Short – Timman, Wijk aan Zee 1986 (annotated in many databases) shows how White can build a spatial edge, yet Black eventually seized the initiative on the light squares, underlining the line’s double-edged character.

Practical Usage

Today the Forgotten Variation is most popular in:

  • Rapid and blitz play, where forcing the opponent out of book after only three moves is valuable.
  • Correspondence chess, where nuanced strategic positions appeal to players armed with modern engines.
  • Repertoire surprise weapons for Black against opponents deeply prepared for the Orthodox, Lasker, or Tartakower systems.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

  • The name Miles Variation is sometimes used in English-language sources, as GM Tony Miles scored several notable wins with 3...Be7 in the 1970s.
  • In certain move orders the opening can transpose to a Hedgehog structure with pawns on a6, b6, d6, e6, an unusual sight in 1.d4 openings.
  • Engines once dismissed the line as passive, but on depth-40+ modern neural-network evaluations often give Black a fully equal score.
  • According to the 365 Chess database, the variation’s greatest rating upset was GM Shirov’s loss to 2400-rated FM Motylev (Moscow 1995) after Shirov misjudged a central pawn break.

Summary

The Queens Gambit Declined Forgotten Variation (3...Be7) is an under-explored, strategically rich sideline. By delaying ...Nf6 and immediately bringing the f8-bishop to safety, Black avoids several of White’s most testing pins and injects fresh complexity into a venerable opening. Though not a primary recommendation in most repertoire books, it remains a sound, surprise-value choice—proof that even “forgotten” ideas can thrive in the engine era.

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Last updated 2025-06-24