How does the Cambridge Springs Variation arise? After 1. d4 d5 2. c4, White has entered the Queen’s Gambit. After 2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5, the main position is reached. Black can then choose the move order 4...c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Qa5, which leads to the Cambridge Springs Variation. The idea behind this variation is to pin White’s knight, after which Black prepares to intensify the pressure with moves like ...Bb4 and ...Ne4.