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
Dutch 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…f5

    Controls e4 with the f-pawn and signals immediate kingside ambition.

    Idea: Build an attacking setup, accepting some looseness around Black’s king.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

10 moves
c4Dutch Defense25 named lines · Dutch Defense: Bellon Gambit · Dutch Defense: Bladel VariationAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e4Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit9 named lines · Dutch Defense: Blackmar's Second Gambit · Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit AcceptedAdvances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.g3Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack7 named lines · Dutch Defense: Blackburne Variation · Dutch Defense: Leningrad, Basman SystemAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Qd3Dutch Defense: Alapin Variation5 named lines · Dutch Defense: Manhattan Gambit, Anti-Modern · Dutch Defense: Manhattan Gambit, Anti-LeningradRepositions the queen to d3, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.Nc3Dutch Defense: Raphael Variation4 named lines · Dutch Defense: Spielmann Gambit · Dutch Defense: Kingfisher GambitDevelops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.g4Dutch Defense: Krejcik Gambit3 named lines · Dutch Defense: Hevendehl Gambit · Dutch Defense: Krejcik Gambit, Tate GambitAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.h3Dutch Defense: Korchnoi Attack2 named lines · Dutch Defense: Janzen-Korchnoi GambitAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nf3Dutch Defense2 named lines · Dutch Defense: Barcza Variation · Dutch Defense: Omega-Isis GambitDevelops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bf4Dutch Defense1 named line · Dutch Defense: Senechaud GambitDevelops the bishop to f4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bg5Dutch Defense: Hopton Attack1 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.

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.