Queen Pawn Openings
Let us see the major Queen Pawn Openings in Chess. These openings are characterized by slow manoeuvres and thematic plans. They are ideal for the patient minds. If you like tactical slug-fests go the King pawn openings as they will provide you with suitable avenues for attacks.
The Queen’s Gambit starts with:
1. d4 d5 2. c4
White offers up a pawn in exchange for rapid development. Black can accept the gambit with dxc4, playing “Queen’s Gambit Accepted”, which is a risky way to play this gambit. Black can also play Nc6 (the Tchigoran Defense), e6 (which leads to the Tarrasch Defense), or play e6 (the Orthodox Defense).
King’s Indian Defense
This is a “hypermodern” opening, where Black lets White take the center with the view to later ruining White’s “wonderful” position. It’s a risky opening, a favorite of both Kasparov and Fischer.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7
Black will be interested in playing c5, and when White plays d5, reply with e6 and b5.
Nimzo – Indian, Bogo – Indian, and Queen’s Indian Defense
All of these “Indian” defenses start with:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
The Nimzo-Indian continues with “Nc3 Bb4”. In the Nimzo-Indian, White tries to create a pawn center and mass his pieces behind behind them for attack.
The Dutch defense starts as:
1. d4 f5
The Dutch defense is an aggressive counterplay by Black. Black immediately begins to move toward White’s kingside in an attempt to crush White. However, it also creates weaknesses in Black’s position from the beginning – this move of the f-pawn weakens Black’s defenses and doesn’t help develop pieces.
The English opening is a “flank” manuever. It starts very differently:
1. c4
Here White hopes to control the center by first gaining support on the side. A common response for Black is “c5”
The above is just a gist of the Queen Pawn Openings. To know more in detail students are requested to contact their coach/trainer and learn the nuances.
Best of luck!