Chessy
Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation: Bf5 — Ready for a Fair Fight?
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5 3.Bf4, you have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation with Bf5. The engine calls this dead level at +0.07 — a tiny plus for White so small that it means neither side has an edge out of the opening. Over 1,675,665 games have reached this position, and the results show just how balanced it is: White wins 49.2%, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 46.8%. Your task now is to pick the right plan against whatever Black throws at you. The drill below will help you do exactly that.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation: Bf5 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Now it is your turn. Jump into the interactive drill below and practise meeting every Black reply — including the punishing line against f6 — until the right回应#
Create a free account →What You Are Fighting For
This opening trades the usual fight for the centre for something quieter: development and piece activity. By playing 2.Nc3 and then 3.Bf4, you avoid sharp theoretical lines and ask Black to show their hand early. The position is so level that small decisions matter more than memorising deep theory. Your bishop on f4 is active but not yet committed, your knight on c3 eyes the centre, and you haven't locked in your pawn structure. That flexibility is your main asset. Black's most popular move, e6 (played in over 850,000 games), leads to a slow, manoeuvring game where piece placement decides the outcome. Your job is to stay patient and let your natural development — e3, Bd3, and castling — build pressure gradually.
The Most Dangerous Black Replies
Over 1,675,665 games give us very clear data on what Black plays next. Here is how you score against each one, from White's perspective: - Nc6 (191,046 games): White scores 52.7% — your best result. Black develops a piece but doesn't challenge your bishop or centre. - f6 (14,733 games): White scores 54.1% — your highest win rate, and the engine confirms this is a mistake that loses Black about 1.1 pawns. Punish it by exploiting the weakened kingside. - Nf6 (305,667 games): White scores 50.1% — almost perfectly balanced. - a6 (158,765 games): White scores 48.0% — a slight dip, but nothing to fear. - e6 (851,245 games): White scores 48.1% — the most common reply and your most practical test. - c6 (110,246 games): White scores 47.9% — similar to e6; Black shores up d5. The key takeaway: Black's most natural-looking moves (e6, a6, c6) actually give you slightly under 50%, while the more ambitious Nc6 and the weak f6 give you the edge.
Punish the Mistake: f6
If Black plays 3...f6, you have caught them in a real error — the engine says it loses about 1.1 pawns compared to the best move e6. This is a rare reply (only 14,733 games in the database) but one you should know how to handle. The move f6 weakens Black's kingside terribly, especially the e6 square and the light squares around their king. It also fails to develop a piece. Your plan is simple: continue developing with e3 and Bd3, and you will have comfortable play with threats against the weakened dark squares and the h5-e8 diagonal. The statistics back this up — White scores 54.1% after f6, your highest win rate in the position.
What the Statistics Reveal About You
With a 49.2% White win rate and a 4.0% draw rate across 1,675,665 games, this opening is a practical battleground: you will win about as often as you lose, and draws are rare. That makes it a good choice if you want a real fight without memorising reams of theory. The most striking stat is how well you do against Nc6 (52.7%) compared to the modest 48.1% against e6. This suggests that when Black is solid and unambitious (e6, c6, a6), they hold their own, but when they try to develop freely with Nc6, your position has hidden bite. Keep that in mind as you face the drill — against e6, be patient; against Nc6, look for a way to seize the initiative.
Results across 1,675,665 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e6 | 851,245 | 48.1% |
| Nf6 | 305,667 | 50.1% |
| Nc6 | 191,046 | 52.7% |
| a6 | 158,765 | 48.0% |
| c6 | 110,246 | 47.9% |
| f6 | 14,733 | 54.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation: Bf5 a good opening for beginners?
Yes, it is excellent for beginner and intermediate players. The position is dead level out of the opening, so you won't be worse just because you missed a sharp theoretical line. The focus is on simple development and understanding piece activity, which are perfect skills to practise.
What is the best move for White after 3.Bf4?
There is no single best move — the engine says the position is +0.07, which is essentially equal. Your plan should depend on Black's reply. The most common continuation is e3 followed by Bd3, keeping your options open and completing development safely.
Why is f6 a mistake for Black in this position?
Black's move f6 is considered a mistake because it loses about 1.1 pawns in evaluation compared to the best move e6. It weakens the kingside and fails to develop a piece. As White, you can punish it by completing your development and exploiting the weakened dark squares.
How do I handle the most common Black reply, e6?
After Black plays e6, the engine's best continuation is e3, Nf6, Bd3 — just solid developing moves. Black scores well here (48.1% for White), so don't expect a quick knockout. Focus on completing your development, controlling the centre, and outplaying your opponent in a calm middlegame.