opening - In the Queen's Gambit Declined, why is 5.e3 so much more popular than 5.Nf3 after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7? - Chess Stack Exchange

To me it seems that both moves transpose into each other in almost all lines, so why is e3 so much more popular? Some statistics from the lichess masters database: e3: 3,289 games (72.5%) Nf3: 877

Queen's Gambit Declined is probably Black's most solid response to 1.d4. This opening is especially effective when White has already committed to Nf3.

Queen's Gambit Declined - Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 (2h and 40 min Running Time)

Do you want to start playing the main lines after 1.d4 with White? - ChessBase India

Queen's Gambit Chess Opening - ChessEasy

Playing 1.d4 d5: A Classical Repertoire: Ntirlis, Nikolaos: 9781784830427: : Books

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Queen's Gambit Opening (Variations, Move Orders, Purpose & Strategy) - PPQTY

Queen's Gambit Declined

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