The Queen's Gambit arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 (ECO D06). White offers the c4 pawn in order to deflect Black's d5 pawn and seize the centre with e2-e4. Despite the name it is not a true sacrifice - the pawn can almost always be regained.
If Black takes on c4 (the Queen's Gambit Accepted), the centre is conceded and the pawn returned later; if Black plays 2...e6 (the Queen's Gambit Declined), the position is solid but slightly cramped. Either way the fight is about the d5/e4 squares.
The Queen's Gambit is the foundation of the classical positional school. Capablanca, Alekhine and Botvinnik all worked on it deeply, and a popular television series about chess made it famous well beyond the chess world.
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It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
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