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
King's Indian Defense: Normal 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. 2g6

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

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

  5. 3.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.

  6. 3Bg7

    Develops the bishop to g7, bringing it into the game.

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

  7. 4.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.

  8. 4d6

    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.

8 moves
Nf3King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses27 named lines · King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation · King's Indian Defense: Larsen VariationDevelops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.f3King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation19 named lines · King's Indian Defense: Steiner Attack · Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Bg5Advances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Be2King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development14 named lines · King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack · King's Indian Defense: Averbakh VariationDevelops the bishop to e2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.f4King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack8 named lines · King's Indian Defense: Six Pawns Attack · King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Fluid AttackAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g3King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Deferred Fianchetto2 named lines · King's Indian Defense: Pomar SystemAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.h3King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation2 named lines · King's Indian Defense: Karpov SystemAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bg5King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation1 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.Nge2King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation1 named lineDevelops the knight to e2, 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.