Queen's Gambit: Chigorin Defense
ECO D07beginner
The Chigorin Defense, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6!?, breaks the first rule of Queen's Gambit defenses — it blocks the c-pawn — and follows a different creed entirely: pieces over pawns, activity over structure. Black develops with ...Bg4, ...e5 breaks and rapid castling, happily conceding the bishop pair or structural niceties for the initiative. Mikhail Chigorin fought Steinitz with it in world championships; Morozevich proved it playable in the computer age. It remains the most provocative respectable answer to 2.c4.
Main line
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 e5 7.Nc3 Bb4
Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.
Win rates by rating
Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.
| Rating | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins | Position after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400-600 | 33 | 63.6% | 3% | 33.3% | 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 |
| 600-800 | 112 | 42.9% | 2.7% | 54.5% | 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 |
| 800-1000 | 61 | 57.4% | 1.6% | 41% | 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 |
| 1000-1200 | 58 | 56.9% | 0% | 43.1% | 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 |
| 1200-1400 | 28 | 35.7% | 3.6% | 60.7% | 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 |
Most played continuations (600-800 rating)
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3:
- dxc4 — played 47.3% of the time (White wins 47.2%, draws 3.8%, Black wins 49.1%)
- Nf6 — played 16.1% of the time (White wins 44.4%, draws 0%, Black wins 55.6%)
- e6 — played 9.8% of the time (White wins 45.5%, draws 0%, Black wins 54.5%)
Related openings
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chigorin Defense sound?
It is offbeat but never refuted: White's best lines (3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3) promise the bishop pair and a structural pull, yet Black's lead in development and dark-square play generate real compensation. It demands accuracy and energy from Black — passivity is its only true refutation.
Why would anyone block their c-pawn in a d4 opening?
Because the knight does something the pawn never could: pressure d4 and e5 immediately. The Chigorin trades the slow ...c5 lever for instant piece activity — ...Bg4, ...e5, long castling races — turning the Queen's Gambit's patient structures into open combat by move six.
Learn the Queen's Gambit: Chigorin Defense for free
Interactive move-by-move training, ELO-calibrated sparring bots that actually play these lines, and spaced-repetition reviews. No installs, free to start.