Queen's Gambit Accepted: Smyslov Variation: what should Black play?

In the Smyslov Variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Black faces an immediate choice between developing the kingside or challenging White's center. The overwhelming theoretical choice is Bg7, seen in 90.0% of recorded games (73K recorded), though computer evaluations slightly favor the immediate central strike c5 with an evaluation of +0.49 compared to +0.53 for the bishop fianchetto. Both moves aim to undermine White's spatial control before White can safely establish an unchallenged pawn duo in the center.

The Immediate Central Counter: 4...c5

Although selected in only 3.8% of games (3.1K recorded), c5 represents the engine's primary preference and yields White a 50.5% scoring rate. By attacking the d4 pawn immediately, Black forces White to address the central tension before consolidating the kingside. An illustrative continuation follows the sequence c5 Bxc4 cxd4 O-O Bg7 exd4, which leads to an isolated queen's pawn structure where Black's dark-squared bishop enjoys active diagonals against the White center.

The Mainline Development: 4...Bg7

The vast majority of players opt for Bg7, which continues the thematic fianchetto plan central to the Smyslov Variation. Against this, White scores 52.2% across 73K recorded games, with the engine recommending the continuation Bg7 Bxc4 c5 d5 O-O O-O. In this setup, Black delays c5 by a single tempo, transposing toward King's Indian or Benoni structures where White gains space with d5 while Black focuses on kingside safety.

Alternative Setups

Other continuations occur infrequently and yield higher engine evaluations for White. The knight sortie Nc6 appears in 1.1% of games (920 recorded) and evaluates at +0.85, running into space-gaining pushes in the line Nc6 d5 Nb8 Bxc4 Bg7 e4. Solidifying moves such as c6 (+0.89 eval, 2.5% of games) and queenside expansion with a6 (+0.97 eval, 2.5% of games) are playable, but they grant White additional time to reclaim the c4 pawn and occupy the center with pawns.