Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. Nf3/2...c5
| Queen's Pawn Game | |
|---|---|
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a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 | |
Spielmann-Indian Defense
[edit | edit source]In this opening, named after Austrian grandmaster Rudolf Spielmann, Black strikes at White's center with their bishop pawn, in similar fashion to the Benoni.
The main response is 3. d5, amassing space in the center similar to the Benoni. Black can continue down the Benoni with 3...e6; or, they can take advantage of White's c-pawn not being on c4 yet by playing 3...b5!, the Benko Defense (sometimes referred to as the Pseudo-Benko).
3. c4 transposes into an English Opening, Symmetrical Variation.
Some 1. d4 players may try to play the Catalan setup with 3. g3?; this is considered a mistake due to 3...cxd4 4. Bg2 e5!, defending their extra pawn tactically; 5. Nxe5?? runs into 5...Qa5+ with a fork, winning the knight.
Some 1. d4 players as White may try to stay consistent to the London with 3. c3 or 3. e3, which are the most common responses.
Theory table
[edit | edit source].
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5
| 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation | c4 e6 |
to 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 |
| Old Benoni | d5 b5 |
 | Wikipedia has related information at Queen's Pawn Game. |
- Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
- Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.
- Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.