The opening

The first moves of any lines are these:

  1. d4 d5
  2. c4

Then if the d5 pawn takes the c4 pawn it becomes the accepted line and if not it is the declined line

The - Declined - Main Line

When black moves to e4 instead of taking c4, it starts the main line of the declined.

  1. d4 d5
  2. c4 e6
  3. Nc3

Declined line the point for black

The point for black is to get the kings knight out and then the bishop so you can castle.

Declined line 2 main lines for white

Bf4 or Bg5

Declined line Bg5 trick if black castles quick

At the end of this opening animation, bring the queen and rook down.

Declined line Bg5 if black doesn't castle quickly

At the end it shows the idea for white to attack, with g4 h4 and then g5

Declined Bg5 for solid players

A safer way to play Bg5

declined slav trick

Try to get the queen down.

declined-slav-solid

declined-pawn-undefended

declined-pawn-undefended-queen-take

declined-pawn-undefended-baltic-defense

declined-alvin-counter-gambit-good4black

declined-alvin-counter-gambit-good4black-2

declined-alvin-counter-gambit-good4black-3

The accepted line, center b5 bad for black line

If axb5 then whites rook comes down.

Another accepted, center b5 bad for black

If axb5 then whites rook comes down.

accepted-line-for-black-1

accepted-line-for-black-2

accepted-line-for-black-3

The ending movements are the general ideas for black

The Tarrasch Defense (main line)

  1. d4 d5
  2. c4 e6
  3. Nc3 c5
  4. cxd5 exd5
  5. Nf3 Nc6
  6. g3 Nf6
  7. Bg2 Be7
  8. O-O O-O

After the opening Ideas

  1. Be3, Bf4, b3)
  1. dxc5 Bxc5
  2. Bg5
  1. Bg5 (Be6, c4)
  1. Bg5 cxd4
  2. Nxd4 h6

The Tarrasch Defense - 4. e4 variation

  1. d4 d5
  2. c4 e6
  3. Nc3 c5
  4. e3 Nf6
  5. Nf3 Nc6

Possible next few moves

  1. Be2 Be7
  2. O-O O-O

(This is just like the Symmetrical English)

  1. Nf3 Nf6
  2. c4 c5
  3. Nc3 Nc6
  4. e3 e6
  5. d4 d5

lines & Variation lists:

Declined

  • 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6
    • 3 Nc3
      • 3...c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 g3
      • 3...c6 4 Nf3 dxc4 5 e3
      • 3...Be7
      • 3...Nf6
        • 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Nf3
        • Nf3
          • 4...Be7 5 Bf4 O-O 6 e3 c5 7 dxc5 Bxc5
          • 4...Nbd7
          • 4...c5 5 cxd5 5 Nxd5
          • 4...Bb4 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5
          • 4...dxc4 5 e4 Bb4 6 Bg5 c5
        • cxd4 exd5 5 Bg5 c6 6 Qc2
    • 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 g3
      • 4 ...dxc4 5 Bg2
      • 4...Be7 5 Bg2 O-O 6 O-O

More to come