What is the best counter to the queens gambit in chess?

Answer 1

There are many good ripostes and counter-openings to play against Queen's Gambit.

Some players theorize that it is best just to take the pawn, as long as you don't try to hold on to it with 1. d2d4 d7d5 2. c2c4 dxc4 3. nf3 a7a6 4. e2e4 b7b5 5. a2a4 c7c6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. nc3 bd7 8. b2b3 cxb3 9. qxb3 qb6. Then white can easily win the pawn back, have a crushing hold on the center, and all pieces are developed towards the open queenside when black isn't even half developed. A possible continuation for this game would be 10. bxb5! bxb5 11. nxb5 qxb5 12. qxb5 axb5 13. rxa8 1-0.

So, a better idea when playing Queen's Gambit Accepted is just not bother trying to defend the pawn, and worry about keeping hold of the center.

Another elective to try against Queen's Gambit is Semi-Slav, which goes

1. d2d4 d7d5 2. c2c4 c7c6 3. nc3 bf5 4. nf3 e5e7 5. bg5 nf6 6. e2e3 bd6 7. be2 0-0 8. 0-0 nd7. Giving both players equal possibilities and control.

But that's not all you can do! There's a very nifty little opening here for black that has a dominant attack on the center called the Grünfeld Opening. And it can be transposed from Queen's Gambit going 1. d2d4 d7d5 2. c2c4 nf6 3. nc3 g6g7 4. cxd5 nxd5 5. e2e4 nxc3 6. b2xc3 bg7 7. bc4 c7c5 8. ne2 nc6 9. be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 0-0 11. 0-0 qc7 12. rc1 e7e6. Giving black a sturdy attack on the center and a lot of traps that white can easily fall into.