Chessy
Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation — Black to play
This position is a practical test of how well you handle White’s central space after 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 d5. The engine says White has a small edge, so your task is not to chase a miracle; it is to choose the most accurate continuation and keep the game solid. In the drill below, you will meet White’s most common tries and learn which ones are safest to face, and which ones let your opponent build too much pressure.
Play the Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and test your defence move by move. Create a free account to track your progress and revisit the position anytime.
Create a free account →What the engine wants here
Stockfish rates this +0.61, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse, so your main goal is to reduce White’s initiative and complete your development without drifting into a passive position. The engine’s best move is cxd5, continuing cxd5 exd5 Nf3 Nf6. That is the critical line to know in the drill, because it shows the most reliable way to meet the tension in the centre.
What the database says about this position
This exact position has been reached 123,756 times in the Lichess database, so it is a well-tested tabiya rather than a rare sideline. White wins 54.4%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 41.7%. Those numbers do not make the position hopeless, but they do tell you that White has scored better overall and that you need to be accurate from the first move here.
The practical replies you must expect
White’s most played continuation is Nf3, with 51,466 games and a White score of 54.3%. The next most common is cxd5, with 21,529 games and a White score of 57.3%. After that come Bf4, e3, e4, and a3. In other words, you should expect White to develop smoothly and keep the centre under pressure, so your move choice has to be grounded and active rather than speculative.
Mistakes that give White extra comfort
The database flags e3 as an inaccuracy, and it loses about 0.5 pawns; the better move was Nf3. It also flags e4 as an inaccuracy, and it loses about 0.5 pawns; again, the better move was Nf3. That is useful for practical play: when White reaches for a quiet build-up or an ambitious central thrust, you should know the move order well enough to recognise when they are not choosing the most precise path.
Results across 123,756 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 51,466 | 54.3% |
| cxd5 | 21,529 | 57.3% |
| Bf4 | 16,114 | 54.3% |
| e3 | 14,087 | 52.7% |
| e4 | 7,816 | 54.9% |
| a3 | 5,602 | 52.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation good for Black?
In this exact position, White has the better score and the engine gives White a small edge. So it is playable, but you should not expect to get an easy game as Black. The right mindset is to stay solid and respond accurately.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is cxd5. The listed continuation is cxd5 exd5 Nf3 Nf6, which is the main line to understand in the drill. That is the most reliable way to meet the position.
Which White moves appear most often?
The most played continuation is Nf3, with 51,466 games. Other common choices are cxd5, Bf4, e3, e4, and a3. The opening is practical because White has several natural developing moves to choose from.
Which White moves are known mistakes here?
Both e3 and e4 are listed as inaccuracies. Each loses about 0.5 pawns, and in both cases the better move was Nf3. That makes the position good for training your response to slightly less precise play.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation?
Over 123K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation position. White wins 54.4%, Black wins 41.7%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.