Chigorin Defense

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 d5 2.c4 Nc6
ECO	D07
Named after	Mikhail Chigorin
Parent	Queen's Gambit

The Chigorin Defense is a chess opening named for 19th century Russian grandmaster Mikhail Chigorin. An uncommonly played defense to the Queen's Gambit, it begins with the moves:

1. d4 d5

2. c4 Nc6

(Chigorin has another important opening named for him that is also sometimes called the Chigorin Defense. The Chigorin Variation is a popular defense to the Ruy Lopez. See Ruy Lopez for details.)

The Chigorin Defense violates several classical principles: Black does not maintain the center pawn at d5, the c-pawn is blocked, and Black must be willing to trade a bishop for a knight. (Chigorin valued the bishop pair less than most chess masters; some say he even preferred knights to bishops in all positions.^{[citation needed]}) In return Black gets quick development and piece pressure on the center.

Although opening assessments change as improvements are found for each side, the Chigorin seems to be playable for Black and it is useful as a surprise weapon against the Queen's Gambit. Alexander Morozevich is perhaps the only modern grandmaster who regularly plays the Chigorin Defense, although in the 1980s, Vasily Smyslov did employ the opening against Garry Kasparov. Morozevich has also published a book on the Chigorin Defence,^[1] in which he gives both a theoretical and a personal view on the opening.

Main variations

The Chigorin Defense has the ECO classification D07. Because the Chigorin is an unusual defense, the theory of this opening is not as well developed as that for more popular openings.

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 some of the most commonly played variations are:

	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

3. Nf3 Bg4 cxd5 Bxf3

	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

3. cxd5 Qxd5 4.e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Bxc3

• 3.Nc3
  • 3...Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 e5 7.d5 Nb8 or 7.Nf3 exd4.
  • 3...dxc4 (or Nf6) 4.Nf3 Nf6 (or dxc4) 5.e4 Bg4 6.Be3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 is a position that occurs very frequently in current practice.
• 3.Nf3
  • 3...Bg4 4.cxd5 Bxf3
    • 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 and now Black has two very different, but proven ways of playing 6...e5 7.Nc3 Bb4 and 6...e6 7.Nc3 Qh5.
    • 5.dxc6 Bxc6 6.Nc3 and Black has now two well established options 6...Nf6 and 6...e6.
  • 3...e6 is a bad move.
• 3.cxd5 Qxd5
  • 4.e3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Bxc3
    • 7.Bxc3 and now black's main moves are 7...Nf6 and 7...Qd6.
    • 7.Bxc3 has received considerable attention in recent years and 7...exd4 8.Ne2 Nf6 9.Nxd4 0-0 seems to be considered Black's most reliable choice, but the sharper 8...Bg4 is also sometimes played.
  • 4. Nf3

References

1. ^ Alexander Morozevich & Vladimir Barskij, The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich, 2007

• Ward, Chris (2002). Unusual Queen's Gambit Declined. Everyman Chess. ISBN 1-85744-218-0. 
• Broznik, Valeri (2001). Die Tschigorin-Verteidigung. Schachverlag Kania. ISBN 3-931192-21-0. 

Further reading

• Watson, John (1981). Queen's Gambit, Chigorin Defence. Batsford. ISBN 978-0713439960. 

External links

• 869 games at ChessGames.com