Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense

The Chigorin Defense is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6, an uncommon reply to the Queen's Gambit named after the 19th-century Russian master Mikhail Chigorin. Its ECO code is D07. It breaks several classical rules: Black does not hold the pawn on d5, blocks the c-pawn and must be willing to give up a bishop for a knight. In return Black gets quick development and piece pressure on the centre.

The idea

Instead of the solid pawn chains of the Queen's Gambit Declined, Black plays with pieces. In the main lines the bishops come out early to g4 or b4, and Black is often ready to give one of them for a knight.

Because the Chigorin is rare, its theory is less developed than that of the main defences, which makes it useful as a surprise weapon. It is generally considered playable for Black.

Main lines

• 3.Nc3. After 3...Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 e5, White plays 7.d5 Nb8 or 7.Nf3 exd4. After 3...dxc4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e4 Bg4 6.Be3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 Black pins both white knights, a position that occurs very often in current practice.
• 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3. Now 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 gives Black two different, proven set-ups: 6...e5 7.Nc3 Bb4, and 6...e6 7.Nc3 Qh5. After 5.dxc6 Bxc6 6.Nc3 Black chooses between 6...Nf6 and 6...e6. The quieter 3...e6 is also fine.
• 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.e3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Bxc3. After 7.bxc3 Black's main moves are 7...Nf6 and 7...Qd6. The recapture 7.Bxc3 has had much attention in recent years: 7...exd4 8.Ne2 Nf6 9.Nxd4 O-O seems to be considered Black's most reliable choice.

Who plays it

Alexander Morozevich is perhaps the only modern grandmaster who plays the Chigorin regularly, and he has written a book on it with both theory and his personal view of the opening. In the 1980s Vasily Smyslov used it against Garry Kasparov and drew.

The numbers

On Lichess White wins 52.4% of the 3.3 million games and Black 42.9%. The gap narrows as the rating rises: under 1400 White wins 55.0% against 41.3%, between 1800 and 2199 52.2% against 42.9%, and from 2200 up 48.1% against 44.0%. In 3,788 master games over the board White won 44.1%, Black 22.1%, and 33.8% were drawn.