Chessy
Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense for Black
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5, Black is aiming for a clean, active setup rather than a passive defence. The position is already one where White can ask practical questions immediately, so you need to know your plan before the first serious choice appears. The drill below lets you practise the key continuation and face the most common White tries from the exact position. Play it as Black and get used to keeping your bishop active while meeting White’s central ideas.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What this position is really about
This opening gives Black an early bishop development and a direct answer to White’s queen’s pawn setup. The main practical job is simple: keep your pieces active, stay ready for central tension, and do not let White build a free game. The position after 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5 is not a forcing line, but it is a position where White already has a slight pull, so your move choice matters. Good Black play here is about being concrete and staying alert to White’s next central move.
The engine’s main test
Stockfish rates this +0.32, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine’s best move is f3, and the listed continuation is f3 Bg6 e4 dxe4. That is the line the drill is built around, so it is worth knowing well: White can try to seize the centre, and you need a clear response rather than drifting into a slow game.
What the numbers say about the position
Across 1,799,165 games at this exact position, White wins 47.4%, draws 3.9%, Black wins 48.7%. That is a very large sample, and it shows this is a real practical battleground, not a rare sideline. The figures also suggest that White’s main tries are playable for both sides, so your success depends less on memorising one trick and more on understanding the ideas behind the position.
White’s most common tries to know
The most-played continuations from here are Bf4 (843,875 games, White scores 49.1%), Nf3 (361,009 games, White scores 45.3%), f3 (165,456 games, White scores 49.2%), e3 (156,274 games, White scores 45.0%), e4 (74,398 games, White scores 49.2%), h3 (47,197 games, White scores 44.1%). These are the moves you are most likely to meet in practice. They all share the same basic theme: White wants to develop smoothly and decide how aggressively to challenge your setup, so you should stay coordinated and ready to answer central play.
The mistakes you can punish
The known mistakes in this position are e3, e4, and h3. Each is marked as an inaccuracy, and each is said to lose about half a pawn or a little more, with f3 given as the better move in all three cases. That is useful for training because it tells you where White can drift if they choose a slower or less precise plan. In the drill, pay attention to whether White is giving you an easier game by playing one of those less accurate moves.
Results across 1,799,165 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bf4 | 843,875 | 49.1% |
| Nf3 | 361,009 | 45.3% |
| f3 | 165,456 | 49.2% |
| e3 | 156,274 | 45.0% |
| e4 | 74,398 | 49.2% |
| h3 | 47,197 | 44.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main idea for Black in the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense?
Black develops the bishop actively with 2...Bf5 and aims for a solid, usable position against White’s queen’s pawn start. The main task is to meet White’s central play without becoming passive. In the exact drill position, White already has a small edge, so Black should play accurately.
What is the best move in the exact position after 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5?
The engine’s best move is f3. The listed continuation is f3 Bg6 e4 dxe4. That is the main line to study in the drill.
Which White moves are most common in this position?
The most-played continuations are Bf4, Nf3, f3, e3, e4, and h3. Bf4 is by far the most common, and Nf3 and f3 are also seen often. Those are the replies you should be ready for when practising as Black.
Are there any known mistakes White can make here?
Yes. The known mistakes are e3, e4, and h3, and each is an inaccuracy. The better move listed for those cases is f3, so if White plays one of them you may get a more comfortable game.
How many games feature the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense position. White wins 47.4%, Black wins 48.7%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.