Queen's Pawn Game

Queen's Pawn Game

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
Moves	1.d4
ECO	A40–A99, D00–D99, E00–E99
Parent	Starting position
Synonym(s)	d4
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In the most general sense the term Queen's Pawn Game can refer to any chess opening which starts with the move:

1. d4

It is the second most popular opening move. The name is now usually used to describe openings beginning with the moves 1.d4 d5 where White does not follow through with an early pawn advance to c4 (Queen's Gambit). Some of these openings have individual names as well, e.g. the Trompowsky Attack, Torre Attack, Stonewall Attack, Richter-Veresov Attack, London System, and Colle System.

In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, strict Queen's Pawn Games (1.d4 d5) are classified in the coding series D00–D05. Other openings where Black does not play an early 1...d5 are classified in the A-series.

History

In the 19th century and early 20th century, 1.e4 was by far the most common opening move by White (Watson 2006:87), while the different openings starting with 1.d4 were considered somewhat unusual and therefore classed together as "Queen's Pawn Game".

As the merits of 1.d4 started to be explored, it was the Queen's Gambit which was played most often—more popular than all other 1.d4 openings combined. The term "Queen's Pawn Game" was then narrowed down to any opening with 1.d4 which was not a Queen's Gambit. Eventually, through the efforts of the hypermodernists, the various Indian Defences (such as the King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian, and Queen's Indian) became more popular, and as these openings were named, the term "Queen's Pawn Game" narrowed further.

Continuations

1...Nf6

This is the Indian Defence, the most common response. This is not really a specific opening, rather a move that is likely to be made anyway. White can play 2.c4 for Queen's Gambit (much more common than c4 first). Then Black may play ...e6 (D37 or E46) or ...g6 (E82 or E60). Also White can play 2.Nf3 which like the Black move is not specific as to opening. Then Black may play ...d5 (D02 or D04) or ...g6 (King's Indian, A48 to E60 or A49) or ...e6 (A48 to D37 or E04) or ...b6 (A47).

1...d5

White can play 2.c4 for Queen's Gambit (much more common than c4 first). Then Black may play ...e6 (D37 or E46) or ...g6 (E92 or E60). Also White can play 2.Nf3 which again is not specific as to opening. Then Black may play ...Nf6 (same as above( or ...e6 (D02 to D30 or D05).

1...e6

White can play 2.e4, which is usually reached by 1.e4 e6 2.d4 so see French Defense. Then Black may play 2...d5 (see 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5), or Black may play 2...c5 (see 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5). Also White can play 2.c4. Then Black may play 2...Nf6 (see 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6). This can lead to Queen's Gambit Declined (D37), Queen's Indian (E12), Nimzo-Indian (E41), or Queen's Gambit Declined (D35). Or Black may play 2...d5 for Queen's Gambit Declined (D31, see 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6). This can lead to Queen's Gambit Declined (D35), Queen's Gambit Declined (D31), Queen's Gambit Declined (D37), or Queen's Gambit Declined (D30).

1...d6

White can play 2.e4, which is usually reached by 1.e4 d6 2.d4 so see Pirc Defense. Then Black may play 2...Nf6 (see 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6), or Black may play 2...g6 (see 1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6). Also White can play 2.Nf3. Then Black may play 2...Nf6 for Queen's Pawn Game (A46, see 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6). This can lead to King's Indian (E94) or Old Indian, Main Line (A55). Or Black may play 2...Bg4 for Queen's Pawn Game (with ...d6) (A41, see 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4).

Other continuations

• 1... f5 (Dutch Defense)
• 1... b5 (Polish Defense)
• 1... g6 (leads to the Modern Defense by transposition if White plays 2.e4)

See also

• List of chess openings
• Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

References

• Watson, John (2006), Mastering the Chess Openings, vol 1, Gambit, ISBN 978-1-904600-60-2