Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Irish Gambit
The Irish Gambit is 2...c5 against the Chigorin Variation, hitting d4 right away. White can push 3.e4 for sharp play after ...dxe4 and d5, or develop quietly with Bf4 or Nf3.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 c5
- ECO
- D00
- Engine
- +0.17 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,150 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 49.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 3.e4 is the main move: after ...dxe4, push d5 and play Nge2 and Bg5 for active pieces.
- Keep the d5 pawn as a space-gaining wedge and attack e4 with the knights.
- 3.Bf4 and e3 lead to a calm game where White recaptures on d4 with the e-pawn.
- Against 3.Nf3 Nf6, Black can pin with ...Bg4, so White must handle pressure on d4.
Black
- Answer 3.e4 with ...dxe4 and develop with ...Nf6 and ...e6 to hit the d5 pawn.
- Trade ...cxd4 against quiet play and develop with ...Nc6 and ...a6 for a calm game.
- Use ...Bg4 to pin the f3 knight when White chooses Nf3 lines.
- Keep the extra e4 pawn only while it does not cost too much time.
Plans and pawn structure
After 3.e4 dxe4 4.d5, White has a space-gaining wedge on d5 and Black has an extra pawn on e4. White develops with Nge2 and Bg5 to win back e4 and use the lead in development, while Black hits the d5 pawn with ...Nf6 and ...e6. In the quiet Bf4 lines, Black's ...cxd4 leaves White with a pawn on d4 after exd4, and the game is calm. Black's main target is d4 or d5.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.17: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.17 3.e4 dxe4 4.d5 Nf6 5.Nge2 e6
- +0.01 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 a6
- −0.25 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Bg4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,150 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, play 3.e4 and push d5 after ...dxe4. Develop the king's knight to e2 and the bishop to g5. As Black, do not try to hold e4 at any cost; use the time to hit the d5 wedge with ...e6 and ...Nf6.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Irish Gambit?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Irish Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 c5. Its ECO code is D00.
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Irish Gambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.17 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,150 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.1%. A sharp choice for active Black players, while White needs to know the 3.e4 and d5 ideas.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation, Irish Gambit?
Black strikes at d4 with ...c5 right away. White answers with 3.e4 and d5 to gain space, or plays the calm Bf4 and e3 setup.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is e4, with Bf4 and Nf3 close behind. 3.e4 challenges the center and leads to d5 after ...dxe4, gaining space.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.