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 5 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
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni
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…c5

    Challenges White’s d4-pawn from the flank at once.

    Idea: Trade space for an asymmetrical pawn structure and active counterplay.

  3. 2.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.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

5 moves
Nf6Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense3 named lines · Benoni Defense: Woozle · Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move OrderDevelops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d6Benoni Defense: Old Benoni2 named lines · Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Schmid VariationAdvances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.e5Benoni Defense: Old Benoni2 named lines · Benoni Defense: Semi-BenoniAdvances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f5Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation2 named lines · Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton GambitAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Na6Benoni Defense: Snail Variation1 named lineDevelops the knight to a6, 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.

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.