Chigorin Variation

The Chigorin Variation of the French Defense, 2. Qe2, avoids the usual 2. d4 structures. The queen stands on the e-file behind the e4-pawn. After 2...d5 3. exd5 the e6-pawn is pinned to the black king and cannot recapture, so Black must take with the queen, and 3...Qxd5 4. Nc3 develops with gain of time. Even so, 2...d5 is by far the most frequent answer on Lichess, and White scores well against it. Black can prepare the central advance with 2...Be7, breaking the pin first.

The reply usually regarded as most critical is 2...c5, which stops White from setting up pawns on both d4 and e4. Play then resembles a Closed Sicilian or a King's Indian Attack, with White fianchettoing the king's bishop so the queen need not move again. After 2...e5 an Open Game arises in which Black has spent an extra move on the e-pawn. White's Qe2 is a modest use of the tempo, though, so Black is not worse. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced. Mikhail Chigorin tried the line seven times against Siegbert Tarrasch in their 1893 match.