Queen's Pawn Game

Queen's Pawn Game
7	7
6	6
5	5
4	4
3	3
2	2
1	1
Moves	1.d4
ECO	A40–A99 ; D00–D99 ; E00–E99
Synonym(s)	d4

The Queen's Pawn Game is any

1.e4 (King's Pawn Game

).

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Terminology

The term "Queen's Pawn Game" is usually used to describe openings beginning with 1.d4 where White does not play the Queen's Gambit. The most common Queen's Pawn Game openings are:

The London System, 2.Bf4 or 2.Nf3 and 3.Bf4
The Trompowsky Attack, 1...Nf6 2.Bg5 and the Pseudo-Trompowsky 1...d5 2.Bg5
The Torre Attack, 2.Nf3 and 3.Bg5
The Stonewall Attack, 2.e3
The Colle System, 2.Nf3 and 3.e3
The King's Fianchetto Opening, 2.Nf3 and 3.g3
The Barry Attack, 1...Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4
The Richter–Veresov Attack, 1...d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 or 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5
The Blackmar–Diemer Gambit, 1...d5 2.e4, and the Hübsch Gambit 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4
The Nimzo-Indian Defence, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4

In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), Closed Games (1.d4 d5) are classified under codes D00–D69. Openings where Black does not play 1...d5 are called Semi-Closed Games and classified as:

Queen's Indian Defence
(ECO E12–E19);
other Queen's Pawn Games, where Black plays neither 1...d5 nor 1...Nf6; these include the Dutch Defence (ECO A40–A44 and A80–A99).

History

In the 19th century and early 20th century, 1.e4 was by far the most common opening move by White (Watson 2006:87), while the different openings starting with 1.d4 were considered somewhat unusual and therefore classed together as "Queen's Pawn Game".

As the merits of 1.d4 started to be explored, it was the Queen's Gambit which was played most often—more popular than all other 1.d4 openings combined. The term "Queen's Pawn Game" was then narrowed down to any opening with 1.d4 which was not a Queen's Gambit. Eventually, through the efforts of the hypermodernists, the various Indian Defences (such as the King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian, and Queen's Indian) became more popular, and as these openings were named, the term "Queen's Pawn Game" narrowed further.

Continuations

The Black responses given below are ranked in order of popularity according to ChessBase for FIDE-rated games.

1...Nf6

This move prevents White from establishing a full

Old Indian Defence). White can also play 2.Nf3, which like Black's move is not specific as to opening. A third alternative is the Trompowsky Attack

with 2.Bg5.

1...d5

1...d5 (

Slav Defence) or 2...dxc4 (Queen's Gambit Accepted). White can also play 2.Nf3 which again is not specific as to opening. Then Black may play ...Nf6 (same as above) or ...e6. A Queen's Gambit may arise anyway if White plays c4 soon afterward, but lines like the Colle System and Torre Attack

are also possible.

1...e6

The

Queen's Indian. A line that is unique to the 1...e6 move order is the Keres Defence

, 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+.

1...d6

This move also allows 2.e4 entering the

Old Indian Defence, or Black may play 2...Bg4, sometimes called the Wade Defence (A41, see 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4). 2.c4 e5 is the Rat Defense, English Rat

.

1...f5

1...f5 is the Dutch Defence. Common White moves are 2.g3, 2.Nf3, and 2.c4.

1...g6

1...g6 is sometimes called the

Modern Defence

line. White can play 2.e4 to enter the Modern Defence. More commonly, White plays 2.c4. Black may play 2...Nf6 for the King's Indian Defence (same as 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6). More commonly, Black plays 2...Bg7. Then White's moves include 3.Nc3, 3.e4, and 3.Nf3. 3.Nc3 and 3.e4 often lead to the Modern Defence, Averbakh System, as well as 2...d6. White may also play 2.Nf3. Black may respond 2...Nf6 for the King's Indian, or more commonly, 2...Bg7. Common White responses are 3.e4, 3.c4, and 3.g3.