Current position
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: von Popiel Gambit
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 1 playable continuation to walk from here.
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.
Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.
Mirrors White’s central claim and prevents an easy e4 expansion.
Idea: Establish a firm center and develop behind the pawn chain.
Advances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Captures the pawn on e4 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.
Idea: Open lines in the center and reshape the center for the next phase.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the bishop to f5, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Captures the knight on f6 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.
Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.
Captures the bishop on f6 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.
Idea: Open lines in the kingside and reshape the center for the next phase.
Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.
Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.
Repositions the bishop to g6, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.
Repositions the queen to e2, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
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.