Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 · ECO D60–D69 · 39 named lines
How do you reach the Orthodox Defense?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7. Along the way the game passes through Queen's Pawn Game → Indian Defense → Indian Defense: Normal Variation → Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian → Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation → Queen's Gambit Declined → Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line → Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 43% | 73 | |
| cxd5 | 19% | 32 | |
| Rc1 | 12% | 20 | |
| Be2 | 8% | 13 |
From 168 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... Nf6 — the position is now the Indian Defense
- 2. c4 — the position is now the Indian Defense: Normal Variation
- 2... e6
- 3. Nf3 — the position is now the Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian
- 3... d5
- 4. Nc3 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
- 4... Be7
- 5. Bg5 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined
- 5... O-O
- 6. e3 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line
- 6... Nbd7 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense
Data updated 9 August 2026. Game sample: Lichess July 2026, rating band 1200–2200. Opening names and lines: lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0).