Queen's Pawn Game (A40-A80 (+D00-D05))

Main line, through 1. d4A40

1. d4

In the centre, White holds d4.

1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.

Modern DefenseA40

1. d4 g6

1... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Modern Defense.

Anglo-Slav OpeningA40

1. d4 c6 2. c4 d6

1... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5. Theory calls this the Anglo-Slav Opening.

Main line, after 1... d6, through 1... d6A41

1. d4 d6

Rossolimo VariationA41

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6

2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn.
2... g6 Theory calls this the Rossolimo Variation.

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

1... c5 Challenges the pawn on d4 - the central tension has to resolve. Theory calls this the Old Benoni.
2... cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4, toward the centre.

Chigorin Variation, after 1... Nf6, through 2... d5A45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5

In the centre, White holds d4 while Black holds d5.

1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4.
2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Chigorin Variation.

Veresov, Richter AttackA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. Nc3

2. f3 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Paleface Attack.

Veresov Attack, Classical DefenseA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5

2. Nf3 Theory calls this the Knights Variation.
2... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5.

Torre Attack, Breyer VariationA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Qb6

Barry Attack, through 4. Bf4A48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4

2... g6 Theory calls this the East Indian Defense.

Barry Attack, after 4... Bg7A48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

Barry Attack, Tarzan AttackA48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. Qd2

Torre Attack, Grünfeld Variation, Main LineA48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O

Barry Attack, Grünfeld VariationA48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Be2

Veresov Attack, Dutch SystemA80

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5

1... f5 Theory calls this the Dutch Defense.
2. Nc3 Theory calls this the Raphael Variation.
2... d5 Theory calls this the Dutch System.

Main line, after 1... d5, through 1... d5D00

1. d4 d5

Accelerated London SystemD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4

2. Bf4 Develops the bishop to f4, eyeing e5. Theory calls this the Accelerated London System.

Chigorin Variation, after 1... d5, through 2. Nc3D00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3

Levitsky AttackD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5

2. Bg5 Develops the bishop to g5, hitting the pawn on e7. Theory calls this the Levitsky Attack.

Main line, after 1... d5, through 2. e3D00

1. d4 d5 2. e3

2. e3 Supports the centre, adding control of d4.

Mason AttackD00

1. d4 d5 2. f4

2. f4 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Mason Attack.

Zurich GambitD00

1. d4 d5 2. g4

2. g4 Opens the f1-h3 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Zurich Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Accelerated London System, Steinitz CountergambitD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5

2... c5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Steinitz Countergambit: development and initiative over material.

Chigorin Variation, after 1... d5, through 2... e6D00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 e6

Chigorin Variation, Alburt DefenseD00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Bf5

2... Bf5 Develops the bishop to f5, eyeing e4. Theory calls this the Alburt Defense.

Chigorin Variation, Anti-VeresovD00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Bg4

2... Bg4 Develops the bishop to g4, hitting the pawn on e2. Theory calls this the Anti-Veresov.

Chigorin Variation, Irish GambitD00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 c5

2... c5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Irish Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Chigorin Variation, Shaviliuk GambitD00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 e5

In the centre, White holds d4 while Black holds d5 and e5.

2... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Shaviliuk Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Chigorin Variation, Shropshire DefenseD00

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 h5

2... h5 A useful waiting move that grabs space on the h-file. Theory calls this the Shropshire Defense.

Levitsky Attack, Welling VariationD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Bg4

2... Bg4 Theory calls this the Welling Variation.

Main line, after 1... d5, through 2... Nf6D00

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6

2... Nf6 It also props up the d5 pawn.

Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit AcceptedD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. dxc5

White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit, Morris CountergambitD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e4

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Hübsch GambitD00

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4

Stonewall AttackD00

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3

Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit, Morris Countergambit AcceptedD00

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e4 dxe4

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Chigorin Variation, Fianchetto DefenseD00

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Nc3 d5

2... Bg7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d4 and e5 from a distance.

Zukertort Variation, through 2. Nf3D02

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3

2. Nf3 Theory calls this the Zukertort Variation.

Anti-TorreD02

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4

1. Nf3 Theory calls this the Zukertort Opening.
2... Bg4 Develops the bishop with tempo - it attacks the knight on f3. Theory calls this the Anti-Torre.