The Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Kmoch Variation is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, catalogued as ECO D41. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bb5, reaching the position shown below after 21 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. White is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to Black's two. It is Black to move after 11 moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.
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.
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The Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Kmoch Variation goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bb5. It is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined and is catalogued as ECO D41.
The Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Kmoch Variation is ECO D41. 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. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bb5 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.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. White is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to Black's two. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.