Chigorin Variation

The Chigorin Variation, named after Mikhail Chigorin, is White's 2. Nc3 after 1. d4 d5. The knight develops toward the center and prepares e2-e4. It also stands in front of the c-pawn, so the c2-c4 lever that defines the Queen's Gambit is unavailable and White has no flank pawn to challenge d5. For this reason masters and tournament players seldom choose it, although it is regarded as sound. The resulting positions tend to be closed and strategic, and the move order often transposes into other openings.

2...Nf6 is by far the most frequent reply, and it stops e4 at once. White's two principal continuations are then 3. Bf4, the Jobava London System, and 3. Bg5, the Richter–Veresov Attack. Against the latter, 3...e6 allows a transposition into the French Defense, while 3...Nbd7 keeps the game in independent territory. 2...e6, the second most common answer, usually rejoins these same lines.

Several other replies tolerate e4 and steer toward 1. e4 openings. 2...Nc6 becomes the Nimzowitsch Defense after 3. e4, a position more often reached by 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3. 2...c6 likewise heads for the Caro-Kann after 3. e4. 2...Bf5, the Alburt Defense, brings the light-squared bishop out before it can be shut in by ...e6 and adds a piece to the fight for e4. 2...Bg4, the Anti-Veresov, also develops that bishop early. A kingside fianchetto is possible as well, and the Fianchetto Defense can arise by the order 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Nc3 d5.

The sharper tries are rarer. 2...f5 sets up a Dutch structure, known here as the Dutch System. 2...c5, the Irish Gambit, strikes at d4 immediately and remains fairly unexplored. 2...e5, the Shaviliuk Gambit, leads to unclear play. 2...h5, the Shropshire Defense, is a curiosity, and White scores well against it.

Engines assess the position after 2. Nc3 as roughly balanced. Their preferred replies are 2...Nf6, 2...Bf5 and 2...c5. The variation is common in online play, and on Lichess White scores slightly better than Black, with very few draws.