Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation

The Chigorin Exchange Variation is 3.cxd5 Qxd5, pulling Black's queen into the center. White hopes to gain time with Nc3 and build e3 or e4, while Black uses the active queen and ...e5 with ...Bb4 to fight d4.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.cxd5 Qxd5
ECO
D07
Engine
+0.41 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,023 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 4.e3 first, then Nc3 hits the queen with gain of time and guards e4.
  • Meet ...Bb4 with a3, forcing ...Bxc3+ and recapturing bxc3 for the bishop pair and a strong center.
  • After bxc3, use the open b-file and push c4 to hit the queen and d5 square again.
  • Avoid 4.Be3: after ...e5 and ...Bb4, Black develops with tempo and White's center comes under fire.

Black

  • ...e5 hits d4 at once and opens the diagonal for the f8 bishop.
  • ...Bb4 pins the c3 knight; trading it on c3 doubles White's c-pawns.
  • After 4.Nf3, ...e4 kicks the knight and gains space in the center.
  • Develop ...Nf6 and castle; the queen can return to d6 or a5 when kicked.

Plans and pawn structure

White gets the bishop pair and a central pawn mass after a3 and bxc3, but Black's development is quick. White's plan is Nf3, Be2, castle and later c4 and d5 or e4 to open lines for the bishops. Black aims for ...Nf6, ...O-O, ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 and pressure on the doubled pawns. If the center stays closed, Black's knights are fine.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.41: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.41 4.e3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.a3 Bxc3+
  2. +0.18 4.Nf3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.a3 Bxc3+
  3. −0.29 4.Be3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.dxe5 Qxe5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,023 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.0%.

under 120048.6%
1200–159956.7%
1600–199956.0%
2000 and up52.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line4.e3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, play 4.e3 and develop with Nc3, accepting doubled pawns after a3 and ...Bxc3+ in return for the bishops. Avoid 4.Be3, which loses time. As Black, strike with ...e5 and ...Bb4 quickly, before White consolidates and starts using the two bishops.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation?

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.cxd5 Qxd5. Its ECO code is D07.

Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.41 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,023 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.0%. Good for active Black players, but White's bishops and center give a pleasant edge if handled patiently.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation?

Black's queen goes to d5 early and supports a quick ...e5. White gains time on the queen with Nc3 and aims for the bishop pair after a3.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e3, with Nf3 and Be3 close behind. 4.e3 secures d4 first so that Nc3 next can hit the queen safely.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.