Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bb3 Bb7 9. Rd1 Nbd7
2...dxc4 temporarily removes White’s c-pawn from the center. White answers with 3.Nf3 and 4.e3, preparing Bxc4 while developing rather than spending queen moves to recover the pawn immediately.
After 5.Bxc4, Black challenges d4 with ...c5 and gains queenside space through ...a6 and ...b5. The bishop retreats to b3, where it remains aimed at e6 and f7 while the rook occupies the open d-file.
The opening’s name can be misleading: accepting the gambit does not mean clinging to the pawn. Black’s healthy plan is active piece play against White’s center; White’s plan is to use the extra central space before the queenside expansion becomes comfortable.