Chessy
Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit for Black
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5, White gets the move and a position where Black has already committed to an active, direct idea. That makes this opening interesting, but also a little risky: the engine gives White a small edge, so you need to know what to aim for and which replies to respect. Use the drill below to practise the critical position, compare White’s most common choices, and find the best way to keep the game going as Black.
Play the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit against the engine
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Play the drill now and test your responses as Black. Create a free account to practise the key position and repeat it until the best move feels natural.
Create a free account →What Black is trying to do
This line is for players who like active piece play and are willing to challenge White immediately. The setup with Nc6 and e5 is ambitious, but it also leaves Black facing an uncomfortable first impression from the engine. Stockfish rates this +0.59, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so your job is not to overpress — it is to keep the position playable, develop smoothly, and avoid drifting into a worse endgame without counterplay.
The move the engine wants
At this exact moment, the engine's best move is Nxe5, continuing Nxe5 Nxe5 dxe5 Ne7. That is the move to know if you want the most resilient continuation in the drill. The practical lesson is simple: when the centre opens this quickly, you need to be alert to tactical exchanges and not assume your early activity will always compensate for the material and structural details.
What White usually plays
In the database position, White's most played continuations are clear. dxe5 is by far the most common choice, with 42,583 games, followed by cxd5 with 22,674 games, Nc3 with 13,262 games, e3 with 12,313 games, Nxe5 with 8,354 games, and Bg5 with 2,596 games. White scores well across all of these, so you should expect sensible, practical resistance rather than a forced collapse. The key is to stay calm and meet the most popular continuations with a sound plan.
Moves to watch for
The database also flags three inaccurate ideas for White here. Nc3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns, with Nxe5 being better. e3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns, again with Nxe5 being better. Bg5 is another inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns, with Nxe5 being better. That does not mean White is in trouble overall — the position still favours White — but it does tell you which moves are less accurate and worth understanding when you face them over the board.
Results across 105,550 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe5 | 42,583 | 54.5% |
| cxd5 | 22,674 | 56.5% |
| Nc3 | 13,262 | 52.4% |
| e3 | 12,313 | 53.6% |
| Nxe5 | 8,354 | 56.3% |
| Bg5 | 2,596 | 48.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit sound for Black?
It is playable, but the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 is not fully equal. Stockfish gives +0.59, which means White has a small edge, so you should treat it as an active practical choice rather than a fully safe equaliser.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine's best move is Nxe5. The continuation given is Nxe5 Nxe5 dxe5 Ne7, which is the main line to learn in the drill.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most played reply is dxe5, with 42,583 games. Other common choices are cxd5, Nc3, e3, Nxe5, and Bg5, so you should be ready for several sensible continuations.
Which White moves are marked as mistakes?
Nc3, e3, and Bg5 are all listed as inaccuracies. In each case, Nxe5 is given as the better move, so those are the replies to understand and punish in the drill.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit?
Over 105K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit position. White wins 54.3%, Black wins 41.9%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.