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 8 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
Benko Gambit
7 plies
Sosonko Variation
7 plies
Bishop Attack
7 plies
Hjørring Countergambit
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.

  2. 1Nf6

    Develops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.

    Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.

  3. 2.c4

    Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

  4. 2c5

    Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

  5. 3.d5

    Advances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  6. 3b5

    Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

8 moves
cxb5Benko Gambit15 named lines · Benko Gambit Accepted · Benko Gambit: Nd2 VariationCaptures the pawn on b5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.a4Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation1 named lineAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bg5Benko Gambit Declined: Bishop Attack1 named lineDevelops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.e4Benko Gambit Declined: Hjørring Countergambit1 named lineAdvances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f3Benko Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Sämisch1 named lineAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g4Benko Gambit: Mutkin Countergambit1 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.Nd2Benko Gambit Declined: Quiet Line1 named lineDevelops the knight to d2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nf3Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line1 named lineDevelops the knight to f3, 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.

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