Queen's Gambit Declined, Janowski Variation

The Janowski Variation arises when Black plays a6 after the initial central moves. In algebraic notation, a pawn move is written with its destination square and an ellipsis marks a Black move; the full sequence is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6, although Nf3 may come before Nc3. The move a6 looks modest because it develops no piece, but it has a concrete purpose: if Black later captures on c4, b5 can support that pawn. The a6-pawn would then protect the b5-pawn and make it harder for White to recover the captured pawn immediately.

The move also controls b5, so a white bishop cannot give check from that square. In return, Black spends a move before developing the g8-knight or f8-bishop. A tempo is one useful move. If ...a6 does not lead to ...dxc4, ...b5, or another concrete gain, White may use the extra development time to claim more space.

Typical plans

• Black may capture on c4, support the pawn with ...b5, and develop the c8-bishop to b7 on the newly opened diagonal.
• Black can also continue with ...Nf6 and keep a more conventional structure, delaying ...dxc4 until it is favorable.
• White often considers cxd5 before the ...dxc4 and ...b5 plan becomes comfortable; rapid development followed by e4 is another approach.

The position requires separating a threat from its execution. ...a6 prepares queenside expansion, but it does not guarantee that Black can keep an extra pawn without surrendering the center. Compared with the Baltic Defense, the Janowski leaves the c8-bishop at home initially and first organizes queenside pawn support.