Queens Gambit Declined Tartakower Exchange Variation
Queen's Gambit Declined – Tartakower Exchange Variation
Definition
The Tartakower Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) is a sophisticated branch of the classical Queen’s Gambit Declined that arises after the moves 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 h6 6 Bh4 O-O 7 Nf3 b6 8 cxd5 exd5. By voluntarily recapturing with the e-pawn, Black creates a flexible pawn structure and frees the light-squared bishop, while White obtains an isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) position with dynamic chances.
Main Line Moves
The canonical sequence is:
- 1. d4 d5
- 2. c4 e6
- 3. Nc3 Nf6
- 4. Bg5 Be7
- 5. e3 h6
- 6. Bh4 O-O
- 7. Nf3 b6 (the Tartakower–Makogonov–Bondarevsky System)
- 8. cxd5 exd5 (the “Exchange” of c-pawn for d-pawn)
Strategic Themes
- Isolated Queen’s Pawn (IQP): After 8…exd5, White’s pawn on d4 becomes isolated. White gains space and open lines (especially the e- and c-files) but must avoid a long endgame where the IQP can be weak.
- Harmonious Piece Play for Black: Black’s …b6 and …Bb7 (or …Ba6) put pressure on e2 and d4, while …Nbd7 and …c5 challenge the IQP head-on.
- Light-Squared Bishop Activity: One of the Tartakower’s key selling points is that Black’s traditionally “bad” c8-bishop is liberated.
- King-side Minor-Piece Tension: The early pin 4.Bg5 and subsequent retreat 6.Bh4 keep latent pressure on the f6-knight; Black often replies with …Ne4 or …g5 at the right moment.
Historical Background
The system is named after GM Savielly Tartakower, an influential Polish-French grandmaster and witty chess author of the early 20th century. He championed the idea that Black should accept the cxd5 exd5 structure, contrary to contemporary orthodoxy that discouraged accepting an IQP for White. The line was later refined by Soviet analysts Vladimir Makogonov and Igor Bondarevsky, leading to the compound name “Tartakower–Makogonov–Bondarevsky System.”
Typical Plans
- For White
- Mobilize the IQP with d4–d5 at a timely moment.
- Pressure the e6-pawn or target the c6-square after …c7-c6.
- Use open files for rook activity—often doubling on the c-file.
- Initiate king-side attacks with moves like Qd3, Bxf6, Ne5, f2-f4-f5.
- For Black
- Place the queen’s knight on d7 and challenge the center with …c5 or …Ne4.
- Exploit the long diagonal after …Bb7, applying pressure to the White center.
- Simplify into an endgame where the IQP becomes a static weakness.
- Break with …c5, occasionally supported by …a5 and …Ba6 to swap bishops.
Illustrative Game
Karpov – Kasparov, World Championship (Game 9), Moscow 1984
[[Pgn| d4 d5 c4 e6 Nc3 Nf6 Bg5 Be7 e3 h6 Bh4 O-O Nf3 b6 cxd5 exd5 Bd3 Bb7 O-O Nbd7 Rc1 c5 dxc5 bxc5 Bf5 Nb6 Qe2 Re8 |arrows|d4d5,c4d5|squares|d4,d5,e6,b7]]Kasparov employed the Tartakower setup (…b6, …Bb7, …c5) to equalize comfortably. The struggle revolved around White’s IQP; despite Karpov’s famed endgame skills, Kasparov’s active minor pieces neutralized any advantage, and the game was eventually drawn.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Tartakower’s Quip: When asked why he preferred …b6 to the more common …c6 in the QGD, Tartakower allegedly joked, “Because my bishop has been in prison long enough!”
- Engine Approval: Modern engines rate the variation as one of Black’s most resilient answers to 1.d4, underscoring Tartakower’s forward-thinking genius.
- World-Champion Endorsement: Besides Kasparov, both Anatoly Karpov and Viswanathan Anand have played the variation from the Black side—proof of its staying power at elite level.
When to Choose the Tartakower Exchange
The line is ideal for players who:
- Enjoy classical structures but want active piece play.
- Are comfortable defending an IQP endgame from either side.
- Prefer a sound yet unbalanced middlegame rather than the rock-solid (but sometimes passive) Orthodox QGD lines with …c6.
Conclusion
The Queen’s Gambit Declined Tartakower Exchange Variation combines strategic depth with dynamic possibilities for both colors. Its rich history, endorsement by world champions, and enduring theoretical soundness make it an essential battleground for serious students of 1.d4 openings.