Chess Openings Lab
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Indian Defense: Reversed Chigorin Defense

The Reversed Chigorin Defense is 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5, where Black hits d4 at once against White's early knight. White can gain space with d5 or take on c5, while Black hopes the Nc3 blocking the c-pawn makes White's center easier to attack.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5
ECO
A45
Engine
+0.67 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
818 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.d5 is the top engine move: after ...e6 play e4, and if ...d6, trade dxe6 and develop Bc4 against e6.
  • 3.dxc5 grabs a pawn; follow with e4 and Be3, and watch the e4 pawn against ...Qa5 and ...Nxe4.
  • 3.e4 gives up the center for speed: after ...cxd4 Qxd4 Nc6, the queen moves again but White develops fast.

Black

  • Against 3.d5, strike with ...e6 and ...d6; after dxe6 fxe6, cover d5 with ...Nc6 and keep a sound center.
  • After 3.dxc5, ...e6 and ...Nc6 prepare to regain the pawn, as the second engine line shows.
  • The queen can come to a5 to pin the c3 knight and add pressure on e4.

Plans and pawn structure

With 3.d5, White gains space and makes Black's c5 pawn a bystander, then aims Bc4 at e6 and castles short. Black breaks with ...e6 and ...d6 and uses the half-open f-file after fxe6. If White takes on c5, the game opens quickly and Black's ...Qa5 and ...Nxe4 tactics regain material. In every line, White's knight on c3 blocks the c-pawn, so White's center relies on d4 and e4 alone.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.67: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.67 3.d5 e6 4.e4 d6 5.dxe6 fxe6
  2. +0.47 3.dxc5 e6 4.e4 Nc6 5.Be3 Qa5
  3. +0.13 3.e4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qa4 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

818 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.3%.

1200–159943.0%
1600–199948.3%
2000 and up51.0%

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

How to play against it

As White, push 3.d5 and follow with e4. That gains space and makes the c5 pawn a bystander. Do not take on c5 without a plan to keep e4 safe, since ...Qa5 and ...Nxe4 regain the pawn with a good game.

Questions

What are the moves of the Indian Defense: Reversed Chigorin Defense?

The Indian Defense: Reversed Chigorin Defense starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5. Its ECO code is A45.

Is the Indian Defense: Reversed Chigorin Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.67 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 818 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.3%. An active reply for Black, but White's d5 and e4 give a clear space edge, so Black needs to know the ...e6 break.

What is the main idea of the Indian Defense: Reversed Chigorin Defense?

Black punishes White's early Nc3 by hitting d4 with ...c5, since White cannot support d4 with the c-pawn. White's best answer is d5 and e4, gaining space while Black breaks with ...e6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with dxc5 and e4 close behind. 3.d5 gains space at once and leaves Black's c5 pawn blocked, with e4 coming next.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.