Chessy
Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation as Black
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation starts quietly, but the first important choice for Black comes very early. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7, White is to move and you need a simple, reliable plan. This page is built around that exact position, so you can train the response that fits the opening rather than memorising random lines. The drill below will help you meet White’s most common tries with confidence and keep your position sound.
Play the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position asks of Black
This opening is about steady development and a solid centre. Black has already chosen a classical Queen's Gambit Declined setup, and the bishop on e7 shows a flexible, restrained approach. That means your job is not to rush for tactics, but to stay organised, develop smoothly, and be ready for White’s central and piece activity. In practice, you want to meet White’s next move without losing the easy harmony of your position.
The engine’s preferred reaction
Stockfish rates this +0.45, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so you should aim for practical, accurate defence rather than expecting to equalise automatically. The engine’s best move is Nf3, and its continuation is Nf3 Nf6 Bf4 c5. For Black, the key lesson is clear: keep developing and look for active counterplay in a controlled way, instead of drifting into a passive setup.
Where White most often goes
The most common continuation is Nf3, played in 67,034 games. It is the main move you should expect in the drill, and it appears often enough that you need a reliable answer ready. The other frequent tries are Bf4, cxd5, e3, e4, and a3. Those moves show that White can choose a number of different structures, so Black should stay alert and build a position that remains healthy against several plans, not just one.
What the database says
Across 135,078 games at this exact position, White wins 49.7%, draws 4.2%, and Black wins 46.1%. Those numbers point to a position where White scores a little better overall, but Black still wins plenty of games. That makes this a good training ground for practical defence: if you know the main continuations and stay calm, you are very much still in the fight.
Results across 135,078 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 67,034 | 49.7% |
| Bf4 | 21,796 | 51.3% |
| cxd5 | 16,297 | 50.6% |
| e3 | 13,563 | 47.9% |
| e4 | 7,573 | 48.8% |
| a3 | 2,403 | 48.4% |
Frequently asked questions
What opening is this position from?
It is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7. The page and drill focus on that exact position with White to move and Black waiting to respond.
Is Black already worse here?
Stockfish gives +0.45, a small edge for White. So you are slightly worse, but not lost, and accurate development still gives you a playable game.
What is the main move to know against White's most common try?
The most-played continuation is Nf3, so that is the first reply you should expect to face often. The engine’s best move in the position is also Nf3, followed by a continuation that keeps Black active and solid.
Which White moves should I prepare for in the drill?
The most-played continuations are Nf3, Bf4, cxd5, e3, e4, and a3. Preparing against those choices will cover the bulk of practical games from this position.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation?
Over 135K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation position. White wins 49.7%, Black wins 46.1%, with 4.2% draws — based on real rated games.