Queen's Pawn Game
ECO A40, A41, D00 · 1. d4
Queen's Pawn Game is the umbrella name for 1.d4 lines without an early c4 and for unusual second moves. It includes popular systems such as the London, Colle and Torre, and many quiet setups.
Plans for White
White develops with Nf3, e3, Bf4 or Bg5 and Bd3, keeps a solid center and castles. The plan is usually a slow buildup followed by e4 or c4.
Plans for Black
Black can take the center with ...d5 and ...c5, play an Indian setup with ...Nf6 and ...g6, or choose a Dutch-like structure with ...f5.
Typical pawn structures
Varies: London and Colle triangles, Stonewall structures, or Queen's Gambit-like positions after a later c4.
Who it suits
System players who prefer solid, low-theory setups with 1.d4, and beginners who want to learn classical development without memorizing long lines. Black players also meet it often in club games.
Common traps
Typical tactics include Bxh7+ sacrifices for White and ...Qb6 attacks on b2 for Black. Early ...e5 gambits such as the Englund can surprise the unprepared.
Variations
- Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3
- Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System — 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Torre Attack — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5
- Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3
- Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack — 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5
- Queen's Pawn Game: London System — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Barry Attack — 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6
- Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense — 1. d4 g6
- Queen's Pawn Game: Mason Attack — 1. d4 d5 2. f4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3
- Queen's Pawn Game: Zurich Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. g4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Anglo-Slav Opening — 1. d4 c6 2. c4 d6
- Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre — 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5
- Queen's Pawn Game: Rossolimo Variation — 1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6
- Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Dutch System — 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5
- Queen's Pawn Game: Hübsch Gambit — 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Liedmann Gambit — 1. d4 c5 2. c4 cxd4 3. e3
- Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack — 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3
- Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov, Richter Attack — 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. Nc3
- Queen's Pawn Game: Zilbermints Countergambit — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 b5
- Queen's Pawn Game: Chandler Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 cxd4 4. Bg2
- Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Classical Defense — 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5