Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense
The Alburt Defense is 2...Bf5 against the Chigorin Variation, developing the light-squared bishop before e4 or Bd3 can bother it. White can try f3 and e4 for a sharp center, while Black looks for ...e6, ...Nc6 and a solid setup.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5
- ECO
- D00
- Engine
- +0.15 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 3,034 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.0%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 3.f3 prepares e4 with a pawn; after ...Bg6 and e4 the center opens with White a little ahead.
- 3.Bf4 with e3 and Bd3 offers a bishop trade and a quiet game.
- 3.Bg5 attacks e7 and invites ...h6 and ...c6 with a later ...Qb6 against b2.
- Keep e4 as the main goal; Nc3 and f3 both help that push.
Black
- Drop the bishop to g6 against f3 to keep it safe from e4 forks.
- After e4 and ...dxe4, strike with ...e5 to open lines against White's center.
- Against Bf4 play ...e6, ...Nc6 and ...Bd6 for a solid and equal game.
- Use ...Qb6 to hit b2 when White's bishop leaves c1, as in the Bg5 lines.
Plans and pawn structure
The question is whether White can play e4 in good shape. With 3.f3 White prepares it at once, and after ...Bg6 e4 dxe4 fxe4 Black hits back with ...e5 for open play. In the quieter Bf4 and e3 lines, Black trades bishops on d3 and gets a sound position with ...e6 and ...Bd6. Black's main counterplay is against d4 and b2, while White plans central expansion and kingside piece play.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.15: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.15 3.f3 Bg6 4.e4 dxe4 5.fxe4 e5
- 0.00 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Nc6 5.Bd3 Bxd3
- −0.09 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bh4 c6 5.e3 Qb6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
3,034 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.0%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, decide early between 3.f3 with e4 and the calm 3.Bf4. Do not allow ...Bxd3 trades that leave you with a weak light-square bishop. As Black, after f3 retreat to g6 and answer e4 with ...dxe4 and ...e5 to open lines.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense starts 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5. Its ECO code is D00.
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.15 at depth 20, which is level. In 3,034 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.0%. A sound, low-risk choice for Black, while White needs the f3 and e4 plan to make it interesting.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense?
Black develops the bishop to f5 before playing ...e6, so it stays active. White tries for e4 with f3 or plays quietly with Bf4, e3 and Bd3.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is f3, with Bf4 and Bg5 close behind. 3.f3 prepares e4 at once and chases the bishop from its active post.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.