As White
Queen's Pawn Opening
The Queen's Pawn Opening is a chess opening for White that starts with 1.d4.
You start with 1.d4 and c4 to control the centre. Positional games where White gains space and pressures the d5 pawn.
Reviewed on November 6, 2026 · Prepared by Josep Serrano Ballestero
Basic · Elo 400 – 600
Opponent's mistake · 4...Nb4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d5 Nb4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxb4
3.Nc3 e6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4 Bb4 5.Bxc4 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3
Chigorin Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d5 Ne5 5.e4
Marshall Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e4 Nc6 5.d5 Ne5 6.f4
3.Nc3 Bb4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3
3.Nc3 dxc4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e4 Bb4 5.Bxc4
3.Nc3 Nf6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3
3.Nc3 e6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3
Intermediate · Elo 1000 – 1200
Opponent's mistake · 4...Nb4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d5 Nb4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxb4
3.Nc3 Bf5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.Qb3 Qb6 5.Qxb6
4.Nf3 Bg4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Ne5 Bh5 6.cxd5
2.c4 dxc4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e4 e6 5.Bxc4 Bb4 6.Bg5
2.c4 e6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3
2.c4 d5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3
4.Nf3 Bf5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.Bg5 e6 6.e3 Be7 7.Bd3
3.Nc3 e6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3
Neo-Orthodox Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3
Normal Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e3 h6 6.Bh4
Advanced · Elo 1400 – 1600
5.bxa6 Bxa6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.e4
1.d4 e6
1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.Nc3
3.Nc3 e6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4 Nf6 5.Bxc4
Classical Variation, Noa Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4
5.bxa6 g6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.e4
4.Qc2 O-O
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5
Modern Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4
3.Nc3 e5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Nf6 5.e4
Neo-Orthodox Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4
2.c4 c6
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.Bg5 e6 6.e3 Be7 7.Bd3
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Opening good for beginners?
Yes. On OpeningCraft you learn it in these levels: Basic (Elo 400 – 600), Intermediate (Elo 1000 – 1200), Advanced (Elo 1400 – 1600). It suits players who prefer long-term plans and pawn structure.
What traps are there in the Queen's Pawn Opening?
OpeningCraft teaches 1 traps and opponent mistakes in this opening, for example: Opponent's mistake (4...Nb4).
How many lines of the Queen's Pawn Opening do you need to learn?
OpeningCraft teaches 25, in blocks of 5. They come from real Lichess games at each rating band, and the traps and opponent mistakes most common at your level come first.