Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...Nc6/3. Nf3

White opts to defend the d-pawn. Black should respond by developing actively and posing practical problems for White.

3...Bg4 is the main line from this position. Usually this move wouldn't be very effective with White's e-pawn still on e2, but White can't respond with the usual Ne5 because Black controls that square with their own knight. White should therefore respond with either 4. Nc3 or 4. cxd5 instead.

3...e5 is the slightly more esoteric Lazard gambit. Ideas in this line are very similar to the Albin countergambit, with slight differences due to the knights on f3 and c6.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3

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

Wikipedia has related information at Chigorin Defence.