Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 · ECO D52 · 7 named lines
How do you reach the Cambridge Springs Defense?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5. Along the way the game passes through Queen's Pawn Game → Queen's Gambit → Slav Defense → Slav Defense: Modern Line → Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation → Semi-Slav Defense → Queen's Gambit Declined → Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, which is why you will see those names on the way into it. Transpositions reaching the same position by a different move order are counted as the same opening on this page.
How does play continue from here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bxf6 | 32% | 36 | |
| cxd5 | 13% | 15 | |
| Bd3 | 11% | 12 | |
| Nd2 | 8% | 9 |
From 112 club games at 1200–2200, Lichess, July 2026.
The main line, move by move
- 1. d4 — the position is now the Queen's Pawn Game
- 1... d5 — the position is now the Queen's Pawn Game
- 2. c4 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit
- 2... c6 — the position is now the Slav Defense
- 3. Nf3 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Modern Line
- 3... Nf6
- 4. Nc3 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation
- 4... e6 — the position is now the Semi-Slav Defense
- 5. Bg5
- 5... Nbd7
- 6. e3 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined
- 6... Qa5 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense
Related openings: Slav Defense · Queen's Gambit Accepted
Data updated 9 August 2026. Game sample: Lichess July 2026, rating band 1200–2200. Opening names and lines: lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0).