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

The Modern Gambit is 4...Nf6 in the Chigorin after 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.Nf3, where Black stops worrying about the c4 pawn and simply develops. White answers 5.e4 to take the whole center and regain the pawn with the bishop, while Black pins with ...Bg4 and ...Bb4 to make that center a target.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.Nf3 Nf6
ECO
D07
Engine
+0.77 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
760 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 5.e4 is the main move: it takes the center, and the f1 bishop will recapture on c4 next.
  • Meet ...Bg4 with Be3 so the d4 pawn stays protected when the f3 knight is pinned.
  • After ...Bb4, Qd3 guards the c3 knight and the e4 pawn at once, as in the top engine line.
  • 5.d5 Na5 6.Qa4+ is a forcing try that hunts the a5 knight with b4.

Black

  • ...Bg4 is the key reply to e4, pinning the f3 knight and adding a second attacker to d4.
  • Follow with ...e6 and ...Bb4, pinning the c3 knight so the e4 pawn needs extra care.
  • Castle short, then break with ...e5 or ...Nd7 to challenge White's d4 and e4 pawns.
  • Against 5.h3, which takes away g4, switch plans with ...e6, ...Bd6 and a later ...e5.

Plans and pawn structure

White gets an ideal pawn center on d4 and e4 and will regain c4 with Bxc4, so Black's compensation is all about pins. With ...Bg4 and ...Bb4, Black makes White spend moves on Be3 and Qd3 instead of attacking. White then castles short and aims for d5 or e5 to gain more space. Black wants to castle and hit the center with ...e5 or ...Nd7 and ...e5, trading pieces to ease the pressure. If the pins fade, White's space tells.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.77: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.77 5.e4 Bg4 6.Be3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4
  2. +0.42 5.d5 Na5 6.Qa4+ c6 7.b4 b5
  3. +0.34 5.h3 e6 6.e3 Bd6 7.Bxc4 O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

760 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.6%.

under 120057.8%
1200–159955.2%
1600–199967.1%
2000 and up47.9%

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

How to play against it

As White, play 5.e4 and defend d4 with Be3 before taking on c4. Do not push e5 or d5 before your king is castled. As Black, keep both pins and do not waste moves with the queen; your knights need the c6 and f6 squares to stay active.

Questions

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

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Modern Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.Nf3 Nf6. Its ECO code is D07.

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

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.77 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 760 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.6%. Playable for Black players who like pins and piece pressure, but White gets an ideal center if Black is slow.

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

Black gives back the c4 pawn in return for fast development and pins. White takes the center with 5.e4 and wins the pawn back with Bxc4, then Black uses ...Bg4 and ...Bb4 to pressure d4 and e4.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e4, with d5 and h3 close behind. 5.e4 occupies the center at once and clears the way for the f1 bishop to recapture on c4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.