Queen's Gambit (Chigorin Defence)

With 2...Nc6 Black does not support the central d5 pawn but develops a piece for an uneven game. Theory in this defence has been extended in recent years in part due to the attempt to create playable lines in the Black Knights' Tango which can transpose into a Chigorin Defence.

Unlike most Queen's pawn openings, White's d-pawn gets put under a lot of pressure. White will have to either counter-attack or defend the pawn to keep the advantage.

3. Nc3 is the most popular response, putting pressure on Black's d-pawn. Black usually responds by capturing on c4.

3. Nf3 is more passive than 3. Nc3. Black will be able to build up the pressure, and White will be on the defensive for a while.

3. cxd5 is White's third most popular option. This is the Chigorin's Exchange variation. Just like in 3. Nf3, Black will be able to quickly build pressure on White's position.

The opening is named after Mikhail Chigorin, who first played the opening in 1889 against Steinitz.^[1] Early appearances of the Chigorin usually turned into a Queen's gambit declined with a knight on c6, which is far from optimal, since Black usually wants to play either c5 or c6 in those positions.

The first five moves of what is considered to be the main line were played already in 1895 by Chigorin in a consultation game against Blackburne and Pillsbury with Schiffers as his teammate.^[2]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

Wikipedia has related information at Chigorin Defence.