Chigorin Defense
You play Black · 3 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
Take a quiz
10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 1
Other variations · 2
What is the Chigorin Defense?
The Chigorin Defense is an unorthodox answer to the Queen's Gambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6. You develop the queen's knight in front of your c-pawn, against the classical rule, and rely on fast piece play instead of pawn structure. Typical themes are pressure on d4 with ...Bg4, ...e5 and ...Nf6, and a willingness to give up the bishop pair for development and open lines. Named after Mikhail Chigorin, it is a playable but offbeat defence, used mainly as a fighting surprise weapon.
Main ideas and plans
The main line is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4, pinning the knight that guards d4. A classic continuation is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 e5 7.Nc3 Bb4: you have given up the bishop pair, but your pieces are active, White's pawns are doubled, and you press against d4 and c3. In the Exchange Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.cxd5 Qxd5, White gains time on your queen with e3 and Nc3, and the standard answer is ...e5 and ...Bb4; in Costa's Line you exchange on c3 and take on d4, and White develops with Ne2, keeping the bishop pair. Against Nc3 on move three, taking on c4 or developing with ...Nf6 are the usual choices, and the Tartakower Gambit with ...e5 is a sharper option.
The Lazard Gambit, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5, gives a pawn for rapid development and is a rare alternative to ...Bg4. In all lines you keep your pieces active, press against d4 and the light squares, and avoid positions where White's two bishops and central pawns take over. White's main plans are a strong centre with e3 or e4, the d5 push to kick your knight, and opening the position for the bishop pair. If White gets e4 and d5 in safely, your c6 knight is pushed back and you may end up passive, so timing your ...e5 break and your piece trades is the key skill.
Who is it for?
The Chigorin suits creative players who like knights, open lines and unusual positions and do not mind giving up the bishop pair. It requires less theory than the main Queen's Gambit defences, but you must understand the piece play, because the positions are very different from classical structures. Against an accurate opponent the bishop pair and White's centre can give a lasting edge, so it works best as a surprise weapon or a second option. Learn first the ...Bg4 and ...Bxf3 idea with ...e5 against the main line, and the standard ...Qxd5 followed by ...e5 against the Exchange Variation.