ECO code: D07
Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation
This opening arises after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5. Black chooses an early ...Nc6 and recaptures the pawn with the queen, a distinctive feature of the Chigorin Defense. Unlike more classical Queen's Gambit Declined lines, Black develops the knight to c6 before supporting the center with ...e6, and the queen's early activity on d5 is characteristic of this variation.
Characteristic: The key characteristic of this line is Black's early queen recapture on d5 combined with knight development to c6. This approach aims to challenge White’s central control immediately and keep active piece play, rather than adopting a purely solid or defensive setup.
Attacking or Defensive: For Black, this is a somewhat aggressive and dynamic choice, aiming to contest the center and develop pieces actively. For White, the position typically remains flexible but White seeks to exploit the slight lead in development and the fact that Black’s queen may become a target for tempo-gaining moves.
Center Control: Both sides contest the center actively. White initially challenges Black’s center with c4 and d4, while Black responds by putting pressure on d4 and maintaining a presence in the center through the knight on c6 and queen on d5. Thus, the opening certainly involves fighting for central control rather than avoiding it.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 12 - Move #7 black