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Tree path 3 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense
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  2. Queen's Pawn Game D00
  3. Queen's Gambit D06
  4. Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense D07 you are here
D07

Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense

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Overview

Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D07 in the Closed & Semi-Closed Games group. The defining idea is the early concession of material to seize the initiative and unbalance the position.

The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.

Play reaches this position via 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6, after 4 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.

4 named variations grow from this line, including Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Lazard Gambit, and others.

In total, the branch covers 10 sub-variations across all depths.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
D07
Group
Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
Plies
4
Parent
Queen's Gambit
Direct variations
4
Total in subtree
10

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

3,349,758 games · White 52.4% / Draw 4.7% / Black 42.9%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nc31,368,262
cxd5721,581
Nf3708,351
e3416,760
c550,893
Bf439,974
g319,891
a36,722

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:03:25

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Variations (4)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Queen's Gambit:

Show all 10 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-declined-chigorin-defense