The Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, catalogued as ECO D07. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2, reaching the position shown below after 15 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after eight moves. White has the bishop pair.
On the Queen's Gambit Declined generally: A solid and respected response to the Queen's Gambit. Black maintains a strong central presence.
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The Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2. It is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined and is catalogued as ECO D07.
The Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line is ECO D07. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2 at +0.31 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has the bishop pair.