Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Classical Defense

The Veresov Attack, Classical Defense comes after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5, with the knight on c3 and the bishop pinning f6. White hopes for e4 and long castling, while Black develops with ...Nbd7, ...Be7 or ...Bb4.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5
ECO
A46
Engine
−0.23 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,453 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push e4 when possible; the c3 knight and the pin on f6 support it.
  • After ...h6 take on f6 and play Qd3 and long castling for an attack.
  • Against ...Be7 and ...b6, regroup with Nb1, c3 and e3 for a solid setup.
  • Against ...Bb4 and ...c5, castle short and accept doubled c-pawns for the bishop pair.

Black

  • 4...Nbd7 supports the f6 knight and prepares ...h6 and ...c5 after e4.
  • 4...Be7 breaks the pin and leads to calm Queen's Gambit play with ...b6 and ...Bb7.
  • 4...Bb4 pins the c3 knight and prepares ...c5 and ...Qa5 against it.
  • Use ...c5 to hit d4 once the minor pieces are out and the king is safe.

Plans and pawn structure

White's knight on c3 blocks the c-pawn, so White plays for e4 rather than c4. If White achieves e4 with Qd3 and long castling, the game becomes sharp and both kings may face attacks. Black's best plans are ...c5 against d4 and pressure on c3 with ...Bb4 and ...Qa5. In the ...Be7 lines, White often reroutes the knight via b1 to play c3, aiming for a solid Colle-type structure.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.23: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.23 4...Nbd7 5.e4 h6 6.Bxf6 Nxf6 7.Qd3
  2. −0.22 4...Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Be2 b6 7.Nb1
  3. −0.22 4...Bb4 5.e3 c5 6.Be2 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,453 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.4%.

under 120051.8%
1200–159949.8%
1600–199949.6%
2000 and up54.4%

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

How to play against it

As Black, choose a setup and develop quickly. 4...Bb4 with ...c5 hits White's weak points; 4...Be7 is the safest. Do not let White play e4 for free; keep the d5 pawn and the f6 knight working together, and watch for Bxf6 trades.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Classical Defense?

The Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Classical Defense starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5. Its ECO code is A46.

Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Classical Defense good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.23 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,453 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.4%. A tricky system for White players who like piece play, and Black stays comfortable with sound development and ...c5.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Classical Defense?

White uses Nc3 and Bg5 to aim for e4 and sometimes long castling. Black stops e4 with ...d5 and develops with ...Nbd7, ...Be7 or ...Bb4, then breaks with ...c5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nbd7, with Be7 and Bb4 close behind. 4...Nbd7 supports the f6 knight and keeps ...h6 and ...c5 ready.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.