Chessy
QGD: Tartakower Defense for Black
The Tartakower Defense is a sturdy Queen’s Gambit Declined setup where Black develops smoothly, castles early, and prepares ...b6. In the position reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 b6, it is White to move, and your job is to handle the pressure with Black. The position is slightly better for White according to the engine, but the database shows a very close fight. Use the drill below to learn what to do when White chooses an active plan.
Play the QGD: Tartakower Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is aiming for
Your setup is compact and flexible. With ...Be7, ...O-O, and ...b6, you are developing sensibly and keeping your pieces ready for a solid middlegame. The key idea is not to grab space too early, but to stay coordinated and answer White’s central tension calmly. In this structure, patience matters: you want your position to remain healthy while you wait for the right moment to resolve the centre.
The critical move to know
Stockfish rates this +0.31, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse. The engine’s best move here is cxd5, and the main continuation given is cxd5 Nxd5 Nxd5 exd5. This is the move the drill is built around, because it asks you to meet White’s central decision directly instead of drifting into a passive position.
What the numbers say
Across 122,305 games at this exact position, White wins 47.3%, draws 4.7%, and Black wins 48.0%. That is a very practical result for a Black opening: the position is playable, and the score is balanced enough to justify learning it well. The database also shows that White’s choice matters, so you should be ready for several different plans rather than only one move.
White’s most common plans
White usually chooses one of a few natural developing moves. The most-played continuation is Bd3, with 41,088 games, and White scores 45.9% there. Other common tries are cxd5, with 37,009 games and White scoring 49.8%; Be2, with 15,004 games and White scoring 45.6%; Rc1, with 6,675 games and White scoring 49.4%; a3, with 5,479 games and White scoring 46.2%; and Qc2, with 5,029 games and White scoring 46.2%. Your goal is to stay calm and make White prove the initiative.
Results across 122,305 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 41,088 | 45.9% |
| cxd5 | 37,009 | 49.8% |
| Be2 | 15,004 | 45.6% |
| Rc1 | 6,675 | 49.4% |
| a3 | 5,479 | 46.2% |
| Qc2 | 5,029 | 46.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the QGD: Tartakower Defense good for Black?
Yes, it is a playable opening for Black. The position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 b6 is only a small edge for White according to the engine, and the database result is very close.
What is the main move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move here is cxd5. In the listed continuation, that leads to cxd5 Nxd5 Nxd5 exd5, which is the key line to understand in the drill.
Which White moves should I expect most often?
The most common choice is Bd3, followed by cxd5, Be2, Rc1, a3, and Qc2. These are all natural developing moves, so you should be comfortable facing simple, principled play.
Should I expect a sharp attack against my king?
Not in this exact position as given here. Black has already castled and the setup is solid, so the main task is to respond accurately in the centre and keep your pieces coordinated.
How many games feature the QGD: Tartakower Defense?
Over 122K Lichess games have reached the QGD: Tartakower Defense position. White wins 47.3%, Black wins 48.0%, with 4.7% draws — based on real rated games.