The Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, catalogued as ECO D57. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Qd6, reaching the position shown below after 22 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after 11 moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.
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 Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Qd6. It is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined and is catalogued as ECO D57.
The Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation is ECO D57. 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 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Qd6 at +0.32 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.