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 2 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 Accepted: Fully Accepted Variation
17 plies
Benko Gambit
17 plies
Yugoslav
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.

  7. 4.cxb5

    Captures 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.

  8. 4a6

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

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

  9. 5.bxa6

    Captures the pawn on a6 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Open lines in the queenside edge and reshape the center for the next phase.

  10. 5g6

    Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.

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

  11. 6.Nc3

    Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  12. 6Bxa6

    Captures the pawn on a6 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.

  13. 7.e4

    Advances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

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

  14. 7Bxf1

    Captures the bishop on f1 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.

  15. 8.Kxf1

    Captures the bishop on f1 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.

  16. 8d6

    Advances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

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

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

2 moves

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.