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 7 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
Indian Defense: West Indian Defense
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. 1…Nf6

    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. 2…g6

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

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

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

7 moves
Nc3King's Indian Defense132 named lines · Grünfeld Defense · Grünfeld Defense: Gibbon GambitDevelops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nf3King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation22 named lines · Neo-Grünfeld Defense: with Nf3 · King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto VariationDevelops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.g3King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto8 named lines · Neo-Grünfeld Defense: with g3 · Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Exchange VariationAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.f3Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation4 named lines · Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line · Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Goglidze AttackAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.d5Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Advance Variation2 named lines · Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Adorjan GambitAdvances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.h4Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Basman-Williams Attack1 named lineAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Qc2Queen's Pawn, Mengarini Attack1 named lineRepositions the queen to c2, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.

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.