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 6 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 Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
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. 2e6

    Advances to e6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

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

  5. 3.Nf3

    Develops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.

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

  6. 3d5

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

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

  7. 4.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.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

6 moves
Be7Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation19 named lines · Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack · Queen's Gambit Declined: Miles VariationDevelops the bishop to e7, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c5Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense5 named lines · Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Main Line · Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Endgame VariationAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bb4Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense4 named lines · Queen's Gambit Declined: Westphalian Variation · Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Vienna VariationDevelops the bishop to b4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nbd7Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation3 named lines · Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit · Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch VariationDevelops the knight to d7, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c6Semi-Slav Defense2 named lines · Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation · Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Alatortsev SystemAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.dxc4Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights, Vienna Variation2 named lines · Queen's Gambit Declined: Vienna Variation, Quiet VariationCaptures the pawn on c4 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.

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.