The move 1.d4 offers the same benefits to
development and
center control as does 1.e4, but unlike with the
king's pawn openings where the e4-pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4-pawn is protected by White's queen. This slight difference has a tremendous effect on the opening. For instance, whereas the
King's Gambit is rarely played today at the highest levels of chess, the
Queen's Gambit remains popular at all levels of play. Also, compared with the king's pawn openings,
transpositions between variations are more common and important in the closed games.
The
Richter–Veresov Attack,
Colle System,
Stonewall Attack,
Torre Attack,
London System, and
Blackmar–Diemer Gambit are classified as
Queen's Pawn Games because White plays d4 but not c4. The Richter–Veresov is rarely played at the top levels of chess. The Colle and London are both systems, rather than specific opening variations. White develops aiming for a particular formation without great concern over how Black chooses to defend. Both these systems are popular with club players because they are easy to learn, but are rarely used by professionals because a well prepared opponent playing Black can equalize fairly easily. The Blackmar–Diemer Gambit is an attempt by White to open lines and obtain attacking chances. Most professionals consider it too risky for serious games, but it is popular with amateurs and in
blitz chess.
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Queen's Gambit after 2.c4
The most important closed openings are in the
Queen's Gambit family (White plays 2.c4).
The Queen's Gambit is somewhat misnamed, since White can always regain the offered pawn if desired.
In the
Queen's Gambit Accepted, Black plays ...dxc4, giving up the center for free development and the chance to try to give White an isolated queen pawn with a subsequent ...c5 and ...cxd4. White will get active pieces and possibilities for the attack. Black has two popular ways to decline the pawn, the
Slav (2...c6) and the
Queen's Gambit Declined (2...e6). Both of these moves lead to an immense forest of variations that can require a great deal of opening study to play well. Among the many possibilities in the Queen's Gambit Declined are the
Orthodox Defense,
Lasker Defense, the
Cambridge Springs Defense, the
Tartakower Variation, and the
Tarrasch and Semi-Tarrasch Defenses.
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Albin Countergambit after 2...e5
Black replies to the Queen's Gambit other than 2...dxc4, 2...c6, and 2...e6 are uncommon. The
Chigorin Defense (2...Nc6) is playable but rare.
The
Symmetrical Defense (2...c5) is the most direct challenge to
Queen's Gambit theory—Can Black equalize by simply copying White's moves? Most opening theoreticians believe not, and consequently the Symmetrical Defense is not popular. The
Baltic Defense (2...Bf5) takes the most direct solution to solving the problem of Black's queen bishop by developing it on the second move. Although it is not trusted by most elite players, it has not been refuted and some very strong grandmasters have played it. The
Albin Countergambit (2...e5) is generally considered too risky for top-level tournament play. Similarly, the
Marshall Defense (2...Nf6) is very rarely seen in grandmaster play, as most theoreticians consider it definitely inferior for Black.