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Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation for White
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3, White keeps the game flexible and asks Black to make a useful decision. This is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, and it often leads to a calm but tense position where development and piece activity matter more than memorising long lines. The drill below starts from the key position with Black to move, so you can practise meeting the most common replies and understand what White is trying to achieve.
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Create a free account →What the position is telling you
Stockfish rates this -0.09, a tiny edge for Black. That means you are basically equal here. The opening does not give White a free initiative, but it also does not leave you in trouble; the position is still very much playable if you keep developing naturally and stay alert to Black's setup. In practice, this is a good opening for players who want a sound position without committing too early.
The move Black chooses most often
The engine's best move is Nf6, and it stays in that channel with Nf6 Bg5 h6 Bh4. That tells you the most natural response is to contest the centre and develop smoothly. As White, your job is not to force tactics from move two, but to continue with sensible development, keep your pieces active, and be ready to answer Black's central and kingside pressure without drifting behind in development.
What the database says
Across 23,600,718 games at this exact position, the results are close: White wins 49.1%, draws 4.1%, and Black wins 46.8%. The most-played continuation is Nf6 with 10,438,900 games, and White scores 49.1% there. Other popular answers are e6 with 5,076,275 games, Nc6 with 2,656,864 games, c6 with 1,892,196 games, Bf5 with 1,800,660 games, and c5 with 717,508 games. So you should expect a broad range of normal developing moves rather than a forced line.
Typical replies and what to aim for
The reply Nf6 is the main path you will see, but the database also shows e6, Nc6, c6, Bf5, and c5 as common choices. That means you should be comfortable facing several sensible setups. Against all of them, the same basic habits matter: finish development, keep your king safe, and make sure your pieces work together instead of moving the same piece repeatedly. Since the opening is level, the middlegame reward usually goes to the player who develops more cleanly.
Results across 23,600,718 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 10,438,900 | 49.1% |
| e6 | 5,076,275 | 48.8% |
| Nc6 | 2,656,864 | 50.7% |
| c6 | 1,892,196 | 49.5% |
| Bf5 | 1,800,660 | 47.4% |
| c5 | 717,508 | 47.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation good for White?
It is perfectly playable, but it is not an opening that promises an immediate advantage. Stockfish gives -0.09, which is dead level, so White should expect a normal game rather than an easy edge.
What is Black's best reply after 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3?
The engine's best move is Nf6. The continuation given is Nf6 Bg5 h6 Bh4, which shows a very natural developing battle rather than a sharp forced trap.
What are the most common responses to this opening?
The most-played continuations are Nf6, e6, Nc6, c6, Bf5, and c5. All of them are sensible developing moves, so White should know how to keep the position solid and active against several setups.
What kind of position should White expect?
You should expect a calm, balanced middlegame where piece activity and development matter most. The database results are close, so this opening suits players who want a sound fight and are happy to outplay the opponent in a normal position.
How many games feature the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation?
Over 24 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation position. White wins 49.1%, Black wins 46.8%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.