Queen's Pawn Game · D00

Chigorin Variation, Irish Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 c5

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

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Chigorin Variation.
• 2... c5 Challenges the pawn on d4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Irish Gambit: development and initiative over material.

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