Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 · ECO D40–D50 · 18 named lines
How do you reach the Semi-Tarrasch Defense?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5. 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: Semi-Tarrasch 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.
What do club players choose at the decision point?
One move earlier, 4,845 club games reached the position where the Semi-Tarrasch Defense is chosen. This is what players rated 1200–2200 actually played:
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb4 | 27% | 1,303 | |
| Be7 | 26% | 1,253 | |
| c6 | 13% | 622 | |
| c5 | 12% | 574 |
How does play continue from here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bg5 | 34% | 236 | |
| cxd5 | 28% | 195 | |
| e3 | 24% | 168 | |
| dxc5 | 6% | 43 |
From 704 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... c5 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense
Data updated 9 August 2026. Game sample: Lichess July 2026, rating band 1200–2200. Opening names and lines: lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0).