The Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, catalogued as ECO D61. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 a6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Re8, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5). Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move after nine moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
On the Queen's Gambit Declined generally: A solid and respected response to the Queen's Gambit. Black maintains a strong central presence.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 150 Queen's Gambit Declined variations →
The Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 a6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Re8. It is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined and is catalogued as ECO D61.
The Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation is ECO D61. 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 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 a6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Re8 at +0.38 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 four minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.