Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense, Queen Attack Deferred: what should White play?

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense, Queen Attack Deferred, White's most accurate theoretical continuation is cxd5, resolving the tension in the center before deciding how to handle Black's vulnerable queenside. While engines award this central exchange the top evaluation of +1.58, the immediate capture Qxb7 is far more frequent in practice, having been selected in 87.2% of the 30,887 recorded games.

The positional merits of cxd5

Playing cxd5 represents a controlled approach that secures a White score of 56.9% across 2.9K recorded outings (9.4% of games). By clarifying the central pawn structure immediately, White avoids giving Black immediate counterplay along the half-open b-file against the queen on b3. An illustrative engine continuation demonstrates how White establishes central dominance: cxd5 cxd5 e4 Bxe4 f3 Bg6, where White seizes space in the center with a positive evaluation.

Grabbing the b7-pawn

The overwhelming choice among practical players is Qxb7, which carries an engine evaluation of +1.47 and generates an impressive 60.4% score for White across 27K recorded games. By capturing the unguarded pawn on b7, White forces Black to defend the loose rook on a8 immediately. The principal follow-up runs Qxb7 Nd7 Nf3 Rb8 Qxc6 Bb4, where White absorbs counterplay against the queen while retaining extra material.

Minor alternatives

White can also opt for slower development or alternate central breaks, though these are rare in the database. The strike e4 (+0.93 eval) appears in only 0.1% of games (33 recorded) and leads to open tactical play via e4 dxe4 Qxb7 Nd7 Qxc6 Nf6. Meanwhile, natural development moves such as Nf3 (played in 2.3% of games, +0.53 eval) and Bf4 (played in 1.0% of games, +0.70 eval) allow White a modest advantage without entering the sharp tactical complications of the queenside captures.