Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...Bf5

Baltic Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rn1qkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p1b2/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5

Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense

2...Bf5?!

A rarely played move against the Queen's gambit, which has similarities with whites London-system. This move develops the light-squared bishop to control the e4 square with a piece and therefore wants to deny the e4 push from white. This declines the gambit in a way, where black can't reinforce his pawn on d5 and isn't able to control the e4-square with a pawn after cxd5.

This is less common as white has no problems to seize an advantage in the game.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5

	3	4	5	6	7
	Qb3 e5	Qxb7 Nd7	Nc3 exd4	Nxd5 Bd6	Nf3 c5	+/-
	cxd5 Bxb1	Qa4+ c6	Rxb1 Qxd5	f3 e5	dxe5 Nd7	+/=
	Nc3 e6	Nf3 c6	Qb3	+/=
	Nf3 e6	Qb3 Nc6	c5 Rb8	+/=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.