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 10 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 Pawn Game
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…d5

    Mirrors White’s central claim and prevents an easy e4 expansion.

    Idea: Establish a firm center and develop behind the pawn chain.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

10 moves
c4Queen's Gambit261 named lines · Slav Defense · Tarrasch DefenseAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e4Blackmar-Diemer Gambit48 named lines · Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted · Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: Fritz AttackAdvances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nf3Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation25 named lines · Slav Defense: Modern Line · Queen's Pawn Game: Colle SystemDevelops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nc3Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation8 named lines · Rapport-Jobava System · Rapport-Jobava System, with e6Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bf4Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System5 named lines · Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit · Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit AcceptedDevelops the bishop to f4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bg5Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack2 named lines · Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack, Welling VariationDevelops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.e3Queen's Pawn Game2 named lines · Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall AttackAdvances to e3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f4Queen's Pawn Game: Mason Attack1 named lineAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g4Queen's Pawn Game: Zurich Gambit1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.Qd3Amazon Attack1 named lineRepositions the queen to d3, 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.