Wikipedia

Closed Game

Closed Game
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.d4 d5
ECOD00–D69
ParentQueen's Pawn Game
Synonyms
  • Double Queen's Pawn Opening
  • Double Queen's Pawn Game
  • Close Opening[1]

A Closed Game (or Double Queen's Pawn Opening) is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. d4 d5

The move 1.d4 establishes center control and permits the development of the queen's bishop. Black's symmetrical response 1...d5 does the same. White's most common response is 2.c4, the Queen's Gambit, with the most frequent alternatives being 2.Nf3 and 2.Bf4.

Unlike with the king's pawn openings, where the pawn on e4 is undefended after the first move, the pawn on d4 is protected by White's queen.The slight difference has a tremendous effect on the opening. For instance, whereas the King's Gambit is rarely played today at the highest levels of chess, the Queen's Gambit remains very popular at all levels of play.

Compared with the king's pawn openings, transpositions between variations are more common in Closed Games. Play tends to be more positional compared to lines beginning 1.e4, but there are many sharp tactical lines as well.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

2.c4

[edit]
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Queen's Gambit after 2.c4

The most frequent Closed Game is the Queen's Gambit, which is entered when White plays 2.c4, or later by transposition, often with 2.Nf3 and then 3.c4. The gambit is arguably misnamed, since White can always regain the offered pawn if desired.

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Black plays ...dxc4, giving up the center for free development and the chance to try to give White an isolated queen pawn with a subsequent ...c5 and ...cxd4. White will get active pieces and possibilities for the attack. Black has two popular ways to decline the pawn, the Slav Defense (2...c6) and the Queen's Gambit Declined (2...e6). Both of these moves lead to an immense forest of variations that can require a great deal of opening study to play well. Among the many possibilities in the Queen's Gambit Declined are the Orthodox Defense, Lasker Defense, the Cambridge Springs Defense, the Tartakower Variation, and the Tarrasch and Semi-Tarrasch Defenses.

Black replies to the Queen's Gambit other than 2...dxc4, 2...c6, and 2...e6 are uncommon. The Chigorin Defense (2...Nc6) is playable but rare. The symmetrical Austrian Defense (2...c5) is the most direct challenge to Queen's Gambit theory, but most opening theoreticians believe that Black cannot equalize with it, and consequently it is not popular. The Baltic Defense (2...Bf5) develops Black's queen bishop early in order to avoid confining it behind a pawn after a later ...e6. Although it is not trusted by most elite players, it has not been refuted and some very strong grandmasters have played it. The Albin Countergambit (2...e5) is generally considered too risky for top-level tournament play. Similarly, the Marshall Defense (2...Nf6) is very rarely seen in grandmaster play, as most theoreticians consider it inferior for Black.

Other second moves for White

[edit]

Lines where White plays d4 but not c4 are usually described as Queen's Pawn Games. These include the Richter–Veresov Attack (2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5) and Blackmar–Diemer Gambit (2.e4), both rarely played as they are considered too risky for serious games.

Another possibility for White is to play an opening system such as the London System, Colle System, or Stonewall Attack. White develops aiming for a particular formation without great concern over how Black chooses to defend. For example, the London System is characterized by the moves Bf4, Nf3, e3, c3, and Nd2, in any order. Because of the lower need for memorization of opening theory, these systems are easy to learn and often seen in casual play, but are rarely used by professionals because Black is regarded as being able to equalize fairly easily, although Ding Liren used the London to defeat Ian Nepomniachtchi in the sixth game of the 2023 World Chess Championship. White may instead adopt a more flexible approach, however, rather than committing to the same initial moves.

Examples

[edit]
Richter–Veresov Attack
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5 white bishoph55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white knightd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1d1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5
Torre Attack
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5 white bishoph55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1d1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5
Queen's Gambit
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4
Queen's Gambit Accepted
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 black pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
Austrian Defense
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5
Slav Defense
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black pawnd6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
Chigorin Defense
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8c8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6 black knightd6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6
Albin Countergambit
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5
Queen's Gambit Declined
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6 black pawnf6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
Baltic Defense
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8d8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5 black bishopg5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5
Marshall Defense
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6
Blackmar–Diemer Gambit
abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5 2.e4
Stonewall Attack
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4 white pawng4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3 white bishope3 white pawnf3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2 white knighte2f2g2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1c1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1g1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5, e3, Bd3, Nd2, c3, f4
Colle System
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3 white bishope3 white pawnf3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1g1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5, Nf3, e3, Bd3, c3
London System
abcdefgh
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5d5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4 white pawne4f4 white bishopg4h44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3 white knightg3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2e2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1d1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1h1 white rook1
abcdefgh
1.d4 d5, Nf3, Bf4

See also

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References

[edit]
The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: Closed Game
  1. ^ Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992]. "close opening". The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 83. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.