Queen's Pawn Opening
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR
Moves: 1.d4
ECO code: A40-A99, D00-D99 and E00-E99

Queen's Pawn Opening

1.d4

At this point, black must decide how to face white's aggression. Traditionally, the two most popular replies are 1...d5 and 1...Nf6. Other moves tend to allow white a broad center with 2. e4. Allowing the broad center was frowned upon in classical times, but is more of a matter of preference today. Another reason 1...d5 and 1...Nf6 are the main replies considered is that many of the alternatives transpose into main lines anyway. One notable exception is the Dutch Defence: 1...f5 whose character is unique and prevents 2. e4. 1...d5 directly challenges white's plan to establish a broad center. 1...Nf6 prevents an immediate 2. e4 while maintaining flexibility to play a number of "Indian" systems or move back into a system typical of 1...d5.

To play 1. d4 correctly, the white player should learn the basic Queen's Gambit positions, the King's Indian, Queen's Indian, Nimzo-Indian positions, and even some of the Benoni positions. This may seem intimidating to the beginner, but fortunately it is not as difficult as it may sound at first. Further, there are several practical advantages to becoming familiar with playing 1. d4 as white:

• 1. d4 openings tend to be more forgiving than 1. e4 openings so far as traps are concerned. Pieces should be mobilised quickly, but it is less common for a natural-looking move to lead to a sudden demise.
• While there are many transpositions between the different 1. d4 openings, this is true because the underlying strategic goals are very similar. The Queen's Indian has much in common with some of the main variations of the Queen's Gambit Declined--much more so than the typical Caro-Kann has with the French Defence or Ruy Lopez in the 1. e4 world.
• Even today, at least at amateur levels, the 1. d4 openings are still less frequently encountered than 1. e4 openings.

Statistics

Approximate chances: White win 38%, Draw 33%, Black win 29%
Estimated next move popularity: Nf6 55%, d5 28%, e6 5%, f5 3.5%, g6 3%, d6 3%, c5 1% other moves less than 1%
For a detailed statistical analysis of ten selected 1. d4 openings see
Comparing Chess Openings Part 3 (2014), J. Munshi, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2441568

Theory table

1. d4

Other less common moves.

• 1...c6 transposes
• 1...Nc6 - Queen's Knight Defence
• 1...b5 - Polish Defence
• 1...b6 - English Defence
• 1...e5 - Englund Gambit

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References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

• Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.

Chess Openings 1. e4 e5 Open Game · King's Gambit · Bishop's Opening · Vienna · Petrov · Latvian Gambit · Scotch · Giuoco Piano · Two Knights · Ruy Lopez · Philidor Defence 1. e4 c5 Sicilian Defence · Closed Sicilian · Taimanov · Sveshnikov · Kan Sicilian · Sicilian Dragon · Scheveningen · Najdorf · Alapin 1. e4 other French Defence · Caro-Kann Defence · Pirc Defence · Alekhine Defence · Modern · Scandinavian · Nimzowitsch 1. d4 Nf6 Indian Defence · King's Indian · Nimzo-Indian · Queen's Indian · Grünfeld · Benoni · Budapest · Catalan 1. d4 d5 Closed Game · Queen's Gambit · Queen's Gambit Accepted · Queen's Gambit Declined · Chigorin · Slav · Semi-Slav · Marshall 1. d4 other Dutch Defence · Old Benoni Defence · Englund Gambit · English Defence · King's Indian Attack · Reti Opening 1. a3 · Na3 · a4 · b3 · b4 · c3 · Nc3 · c4 · d3 · d4 · e3 · e4 · f3 · Nf3 · f4 · g3 · g4 · h3 · Nh3 · h4