Chess Openings Lab
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Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense

The Chigorin Defense in the Danish Gambit is 5...Qe7, after Black takes two pawns and White's bishops sit on c4 and b2. The queen hits e4 and shields the e-file, while White aims to defend e4 with Nc3 and use the bishops and lead in development.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7
ECO
C21
Engine
+0.47 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
198 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 6.Nc3 guards e4 and develops. Then Nge2 and short castling, as in the engine line.
  • If Black plays ...d5, Bxd5 keeps the c4 bishop active and wins a central pawn back.
  • Do not play 6.Be2, since ...Qxe4 wins a third pawn for free.
  • The b2 bishop aims at g7; pair it with a knight jump to d5 against the e7 queen.

Black

  • Develop with ...Nf6 and return a pawn with ...d5 to free the c8 bishop.
  • After Bxd5, ...c6 kicks the bishop and ...Na6 heads for c5 or b4.
  • The queen on e7 blocks the f8 bishop, so plan to move it again after development.
  • Look for ...Qxe4 only when it does not open the e-file toward your own king.

Plans and pawn structure

White is two pawns down but has both bishops on open diagonals and a big lead in development. The plan is Nc3, Nge2, short castling and pressure on f7 and g7, with Nd5 as a key jump against the queen. Black's queen move defends but blocks the f8 bishop, so Black must untangle with ...Nf6, ...d5 and ...c6. If Black gets castled with a pawn extra, Black is fine. In this line White keeps the initiative longer than in other Danish defenses.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.47: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.47 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Nge2 d5 8.Bxd5 c6
  2. −0.26 6.Qe2 c6 7.Nd2 d5 8.exd5 Qxe2+
  3. −0.79 6.Be2 Qxe4 7.Nf3 Qb4+ 8.Bc3 Qd6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

198 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.8%.

1200–159959.9%
1600–199956.3%

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

How to play against it

As White, defend e4 at once with Nc3, then develop and castle. Do not let ...Qxe4 come with check or with a fork. Black's queen blocks the dark bishop, so a quick Nd5 or Qe2 can make it awkward to untangle.

Questions

What are the moves of the Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense?

The Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 Qe7. Its ECO code is C21.

Is the Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.47 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. A fighting line where White's gambit compensation is real; Black needs good technique to untangle the queen and bishop.

What is the main idea of the Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense?

Black's queen goes to e7 to attack e4 and guard the e-file. It stops some tactics on f7 and e7, but it also blocks the f8 bishop, so White keeps good compensation with Nc3, Nge2 and quick castling.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with Qe2 and Be2 close behind. 6.Nc3 defends e4 and develops, the only natural way to keep the e-pawn while bringing a piece out.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.