Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower Variation

The Tartakower Variation begins from a classical Queen's Gambit Declined position. Black drives White's bishop from g5 with ...h6 and, after the bishop retreats to h4, plays ...b6. That advance prepares ...Bb7, developing the c8-bishop onto the long diagonal toward the center.

...b6 creates a side exit for the bishop

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Starth6Bh4b6Bd3Bb7

...h6 advances with an attack on g5, so White's bishop must choose between retreating and exchanging.

Black gains time before preparing the fianchetto

...h6 makes the g5-bishop decide, and ...b6 prepares a route around the e6-pawn.

1. ...h6 advances with an attack on g5, so White's bishop must choose between retreating and exchanging.
2. ...b6 followed by ...Bb7 forms one plan: clear b7 and bring the shut-in c8-bishop there.

Black's traditional problem in this opening is that the e6-pawn shuts in the c8-bishop. The Tartakower does not solve it by moving that pawn first; it creates a side route through b7. Once the bishop is active, Black can consider ...dxc4 to clarify the central tension and ...c5 to attack d4. The exact order depends on White's piece placement and whether the center remains closed.