Why the Chigorin Variation is worth training
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6.The Chigorin Variation of the Queen's Pawn Game starts with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6. Black blocks the c-pawn on purpose, develops the pieces quickly, and often pins the knight on f3 with ...Bg4. Instead of the usual ...c6 or ...e6 pawn structures, Black relies on active piece play against d4.
Chessmate has a Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation course for White and a Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation course for Black. The White course has seven lines against 2...Nc6 and the Irish Gambit, and the Black course has five lines built around 2...Nc6 and ...Bg4, plus 2...Bf5 against 2.Nc3.
The Bf4 and c4 sample line for White
11.Rxc3, the rook is active on c3, and White keeps both bishops while Black has traded both of its bishops.In the White sample line, White develops with 3.Bf4, and Black pins the knight with 3...Bg4. After 4.e3 e6, White challenges the center with 5.c4. Black checks with 5...Bb4+, White blocks with 6.Nc3, and after 6...Nf6 7.Rc1 O-O the rook stands behind the c-pawn and defends the knight on c3.
White questions the bishop with 8.h3, and Black takes with 8...Bxf3. White recaptures with 9.Qxf3, keeping the pawns intact and the queen aimed at the center. After 9...Qe7 10.Bg5, the bishop pins the knight on f6. Black takes on c3 with check with 10...Bxc3+, and White recaptures with 11.Rxc3, activating the rook.
The pin and ...Bxc3+ sample line for Black
10...Bxc3+, Black gives check and makes White recapture with the rook.The Black sample line follows the same moves from Black's side. Black matches with 1...d5, develops with 2...Nc6, and pins the knight on f3 with 3...Bg4. After 4.e3 e6 5.c4, Black develops with check with 5...Bb4+, so White has to spend a move blocking it.
After 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Rc1 O-O, Black has castled. When White plays 8.h3, Black gives up the bishop with 8...Bxf3 instead of retreating, and after 9.Qxf3 connects the pieces with 9...Qe7. When White pins the knight with 10.Bg5, Black takes on c3 with 10...Bxc3+ and forces White to recapture.
Quiet third moves and the Irish Gambit for White
6.Nd5, the knight stands in the center and attacks c7 and e7.The White course also covers quieter third moves. With 3.e3, White develops with 4.Be2, fianchettoes with 5.b3 and 7.Bb2, and after 9.c4 c6 10.Qc2 Ne4 gains space with 11.c5, attacking the bishop on d6. With 3.g3, White meets Black's long castling with a queenside pawn race: 9.g4 Bg6 10.b4 h5 11.b5. With 3.c3, White recaptures on f3 with 5.exf3, trades the dark-squared bishops with 10.Bxd6, and castles long with 11.O-O-O.
Against the Irish Gambit 2.Nc3 c5, White takes with 3.dxc5 and claims space with 4.e4. After 4...d4 5.Bc4 Nc6, White centralizes with 6.Nd5, develops with 7.Bf4 instead of chasing the pawn, and castles long with 11.O-O-O. Two more lines cover 3.Bf4 Bf5, where White trades the active bishop with 5.Bd3, and 3...Nf6, where White puts a knight on the e5 outpost with 6.Ne5.
Black's answers to 3.e3, 3.g3, 3.c3, and 2.Nc3
10...Qf6, the queen attacks the undefended pawn on f4.Against 3.e3, Black pins with 3...Bg4, checks with 5...Bb4+, reroutes the knight with 7...Nce7 so the other knight can come to f6, and supports d5 with 9...c6. After 10.Qc2, the knight jumps to the e4 outpost with 10...Ne4. Against 3.g3, Black connects the queenside with 4...Qd7, strikes in the center with 6...e5, and castles long with 7...O-O-O. Against 3.c3, Black takes on f3 at once with 4...Bxf3 and also castles long.
Against 2.Nc3, the Black course plays 2...Bf5. After 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.g4 Bg6, Black trades White's active bishops with 7...Bxd3 and 8...Bxf4, leaving White with doubled f-pawns. After 9.exf4 h5 10.gxh5, Black attacks the pawn on f4 with 10...Qf6.
What to train first
Pick the course for the color you play.
- If you face the Chigorin Variation as White, start with the Chigorin Variation course for White. Learn the Bf4 and c4 sample line first, then the Irish Gambit and the long-castling line with
3.c3. - If you play the Chigorin Variation as Black, start with the Chigorin Variation course for Black. Learn the sample line with the pin and ...Bxc3+ first, then the
2...Bf5line against2.Nc3. - Whichever side you play, watch the pin on f3 and the pawn on d4. Black's pieces pressure d4 early, and White has to decide when to challenge with c4 or question the bishop with h3.
The Chigorin Variation gives Black quick piece play and gives White a choice between the c4 challenge and quiet setups. Train the lines until you know when the pin on f3 helps Black and when it only gives White the bishop pair.