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Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation: c6 – Playing as White
You've played 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 c6 4.e4, and now Black has to find a way to deal with your strong central presence. After 3...c6, White's 4.e4 grabs space and dares Black to push back — but the computer calls this position dead level at +0.22. On the surface that sounds neutral, but the statistics tell a more encouraging story: White wins 54.7% of the time across over 116,000 games. The trick is knowing which Black replies to fear and which to welcome. Jump into the interactive drill below and test yourself against the engine's best responses.
Play the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation: c6 against the engine
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Create a free account →What White Is Fighting For
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 c6 4.e4, White has built a bold pawn centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Black's ...c6 was a flexible move that could support ...b5 or prepare ...e6, but your 4.e4 immediately asks: how will Black challenge the centre? The engine evaluates this at +0.22, which is a tiny edge for White — essentially dead level, but with White enjoying slightly more space and easier development. Your long-term plan is straightforward: complete development, keep the central pawns advancing when safe, and punish any Black move that doesn't contest the centre directly. In practice, White's extra space leads to a comfortable middlegame, especially if Black plays timidly.
The Critical Moment: Black's Choice on Move 4
Black faces several options here, and the database of 116,045 games reveals that the move your opponent picks makes a huge difference to your winning chances. The most popular reply by far is b5 (53,753 games), where Black tries to hang onto the c4-pawn and expand on the queenside. Against b5, White scores 50.8% — still a majority, but Black holds up reasonably well here. The engine's best continuation after b5 is a4 e6 axb5, ripping open the queenside. The real opportunities come against Black's other tries. Bg4 (23,554 games) is the second most common and nets White 55.6%, while Nf6 (10,498 games) gives White 57.3%. The biggest rewards come from Black playing c5 (only 2,072 games but White crushes with 63.6%) or e6 (12,718 games, White scores 59.1%).
Punish Black's Most Common Mistakes
The engine is clear: Black's best move here is b5. Anything else cedes an advantage. The three biggest offenders are: - Bg4 – labelled an inaccuracy, losing roughly 0.7 pawns. Black pins your knight but neglects the centre, and you can exploit it. Instead of Bg4, Black should have played b5. - e6 – a full mistake, losing about 1.2 pawns. Black blocks in the light-squared bishop and never challenges your centre. The engine's verdict is harsh: better was b5. - Be6 – also a mistake costing about 1.2 pawns. Black develops the bishop to a passive square where it can be kicked by ...f3 or ...d5 ideas. Against all three of these, your winning percentage jumps noticeably. If your opponent plays anything other than b5, you are already on track for a great result.
How to Handle the Most Popular Reply: …b5
The most principled answer Black has is b5, trying to cling to the c4-pawn and prepare a queenside pawn storm. The database shows 53,753 games reach this position. The engine's recommended continuation is a4 e6 axb5. By playing a4, you immediately challenge Black's pawn chain. After Black plays e6 to shore up the centre, you capture on b5 with axb5, opening lines on the queenside. The resulting positions are balanced but active — you'll have a lead in development and open files for your rooks. White's 50.8% score here is the lowest of any major Black reply, so treat this line with respect. Focus on rapid development (Be3, Nc3, Qd2, 0-0-0 are all natural follow-ups) and don't let Black's extra queenside space make you nervous. Your centre is your strength.
Results across 116,045 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| b5 | 53,753 | 50.8% |
| Bg4 | 23,554 | 55.6% |
| e6 | 12,718 | 59.1% |
| Nf6 | 10,498 | 57.3% |
| Be6 | 3,114 | 54.9% |
| c5 | 2,072 | 63.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted good for White?
Yes, White does well in practice. The engine gives this exact position +0.22, a tiny edge for White. Across 116,045 games White wins 54.7% of the time, with only 3.8% draws and 41.5% Black wins. Those are solid numbers for White at the club level.
What is the best move for Black after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 c6 4.e4?
The engine says Black's best move is b5, which keeps the game balanced. The computer's recommended line continues b5 a4 e6 axb5. Any other major alternative — Bg4, e6, or Be6 — is classified as an inaccuracy or mistake and gives White a clear advantage.
Should I play 4.e4 in the Queen's Gambit Accepted?
Absolutely. 4.e4 is the start of the Normal Variation and is the most ambitious way to meet Black's 3...c6. You claim the centre immediately, and the statistics favour White. Since the position starts dead level at +0.22, your practical chances are excellent — especially if Black doesn't respond with the best move b5.
Why is the Queen's Gambit Accepted called 'accepted'?
It's called the Queen's Gambit Accepted when Black captures the c4-pawn on move 2 (...dxc4), accepting the gambit. If Black instead plays ...e6 or ...c6 to defend the pawn, you enter the Queen's Gambit Declined. In this line, Black accepted the pawn (2...dxc4) and followed up with 3...c6, preparing to hold it.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation: c6?
Over 116K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation: c6 position. White wins 54.7%, Black wins 41.5%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.