Flank openings

Queen's Pawn Game

1.d4

The Queen's Pawn Game starts with 1.d4 and is catalogued under ECO A40, in the flank openings half of the book. The catalog indexes 82 lines inside it, grouped into 49 named variations, and the position after those moves has 14 playable continuations to walk from here.

Opening repertoire map

Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.

Current position
Queen's Pawn Game
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 1.d4

    Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.

    Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

14 moves
Nf6Indian Defense538 named lines · Slav Indian · Benko GambitDevelops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.d5Queen's Pawn Game350 named lines · Slav Defense · Amazon AttackMirrors White’s central claim and prevents an easy e4 expansion.Idea: Establish a firm center and develop behind the pawn chain.f5Dutch Defense59 named lines · Dutch Defense: Bellon Gambit · Dutch Defense: Hopton AttackControls e4 with the f-pawn and signals immediate kingside ambition.Idea: Build an attacking setup, accepting some looseness around Black’s king.g6Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense22 named lines · Modern Defense · Modern Defense: Averbakh SystemAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e5Englund Gambit16 named lines · Englund Gambit Declined · Englund Gambit: Main LineAdvances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.c5Benoni Defense: Old Benoni15 named lines · Benoni Defense: Woozle · Benoni Defense: Semi-BenoniChallenges White’s d4-pawn from the flank at once.Idea: Trade space for an asymmetrical pawn structure and active counterplay.e6Horwitz Defense11 named lines · English Defense · Kangaroo DefenseAdvances to e6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.d6Queen's Pawn Game9 named lines · Wade Defense · Old Indian DefenseAdvances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nc6Mikenas Defense6 named lines · Zaire Defense · Montevideo DefenseDevelops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.b5Polish Defense2 named lines · Polish Defense: Spassky Gambit AcceptedAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.b6English Defense2 named lines · English Defense: Eastbourne GambitAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.c6Queen's Pawn Game2 named lines · Slav Indian: Kudischewitsch Gambit · Queen's Pawn Game: Anglo-Slav OpeningAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g5Borg Defense: Borg Gambit1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.Na6Australian Defense1 named lineDevelops the knight to a6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

Named variations

Each line below is an indexed entry under Queen's Pawn Game. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.

25 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.

Openings from the same volume

ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Queen's Pawn Game.