Wasn´t there a game on one of the updates recently with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e3!? It all ended up rosy for WHite, although hard to believe this is cutting edge stuff!

Christoph,

Of course i know this is not a new invention.  I couldn't find any analysis of it so i put some together for myself.

Funny you mention that game because I included that game in the PGN that i put together.

PGN:
http://s95395959.onlinehome.us/public/chess/openings/B%20%21_chigorin/chigorin%2...

BTW, I look forward to your book for Everyman, "1...Nc6"

Hi, I am a patzer rated 1720 USCF.  I picked up the Chigorin QGD but soon discovered that most 1.d4 players at my (low) level play the dull and somewhat unimaginative COLLE and LONDON systems.

I noticed that Colle & London (esp. the move c2-c3) are not effective against the Dutch defence and so I wondered if Black could go for a Dutch setup with a Chigorin move-order.  Having played 1...d5, the only available Dutch structure is the Stonewall.

I consulted Bronznik (English ed.) and Lane (IBMCO:B) but neither book covers the idea (early f7-f5) in any depth.

So i attempted some analysis on my own, and posted the result:
http://s95395959.onlinehome.us/public/chess/openings/B%20%21_chigorin/chigorin%2...

I know that IM's and GM's post here and I am only B-class.  So I am not under any illusions about this analysis being "correct".  I only offer it as food for thought and i'd be interested to hear stronger players' reactions to the idea.

Thx.

@CWisnewski

Danke Schoen, 
Cpacibo Bolshoi,
Grazie, 
Gracias, 
Merci, 

And so on...

The annotations now have been translated.

See above for the game!

Cwisnewski,

If I am not asking for too much, could you translate the annotation in English and post it? Preferrably in a pgn friendly form. Or else, cut and paste technology will always come in handy and so no worry there.

Thanks

EDIT: --- The game annotations are now in English ---

Another game I played with the Chigorin. This game is from the last season in the German Bundesliga and shows how Black can achieve a good game against 3. g3 if White plays careless (Again, annotations are in german, but I shall translate them as soon as there is time, and given there is interest):

Krasenkow,M (2676) - Wisnewski,C (2392) [A00]
German Bundesliga (9), 30.01.2005

1.Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 2.d2-d4 d7-d5 3.g2-g3 Bc8-g4 4.Bf1-g2 e7-e6 5.c2-c3?! 

A passive move, which is unable to guarantee any opening advantage [5.c2-c4 is normal here and should be played if White wants to achieve any advantage, although I believe that Black can equalize. This can be done with 5...Bf8-d6! in order to keep control of e5. Possible continuations are: (5...Ng8-f6? 6.Nf3-e5! gives Black problems.) 6.0-0 Ng8-f6 7.Nb1-c3 (7.b2-b3 0-0 8.Bc1-b2 Nf6-e4 9.Nb1-c3 (9.Nf3-e1 Bg4-h5 10.Nb1-d2 f7-f5 11.Ne1-d3 a7-a5! with black initiative.) 9...f7-f5!? 10.c4xd5 e6xd5 11.Nc3xd5 Bd6xg3 12.h2xg3 Qd8xd5 with a good game for black thanks to his control of the light squares; 7...0-0 (Not 7...Nf6-e4? because of 8.c4xd5 e6xd5 9.Qd1-b3±) 8.c4xd5 (8.Bc1-g5 d5xc4 9.Qd1-a4 (9.e2-e4? Bd6-e7 and d4 is completely weak.) 9...h7-h6 10.Bg5xf6 (10.Bg5-c1 Nf6-d5 11.Qa4xc4 Nc6-a5 12.Qc4-d3 Nd5-b4 13.Qd3-d1 Na5-c4 also gives active play for Black.) 10...Qd8xf6=+; 8...Nf6xd5 9.e2-e4 Nd5-b6 10.b2-b3 (10.Bc1-e3 Nb6-c4=) 10...Bd6-b4 11.Bc1-b2 f7-f5! and the white centre is about to get busted.] 

5...Bf8-d6 6.Qd1-b3 Ra8-b8 

This move is typical for various systems where White plays Qb3. Black protects his b-pawn and moves his rook away from the h1-a8 diagonal. Additionally, a possible advance ...b7-b5-b4 can be an idea in certain positions.

7.0-0 Ng8-f6 8.Bc1-g5 h7-h6 9.Bg5xf6 Qd8xf6 10.Nb1-d2 0-0 11.e2-e4 Bg4xf3!? 

It seems that Krasenkov, who played quite fast up til now, underestimated this move.

12.Bg2xf3 

[12.Nd2xf3 seems better. White does not have much after 12...d5xe4 13.Nf3-d2 Rf8-d8 14.Nd2xe4 Qf6-e7 but at least Black has not been able to fully equalize yet.] 

12...d5xe4 13.Bf3xe4 e6-e5= 

The opening phase is complete, Black has equalized.

14.d4-d5?! 

It is understandable that my opponent, with an ELO plus of nearly 300 points, is not happy with a draw being White. Yet, it is dangerous for White to continue in this fashion [14.d4xe5 Nc6xe5 15.Nd2-c4 Ne5xc4 16.Qb3xc4 is one possibility how the position can completely dry out.] 

14...Nc6-e7 15.c3-c4 b7-b6=+ 

The structure that has arisen satisfied me. Black was able to build up a successful blockade on the dark squares to keep the white pawn majority on the queen side from advancing, while chances on the kingside, especially through a possible advance ...f7-f5 are retained.

16.Be4-c2 Ne7-c8?+= 

I was angry about this maneuver when my opponent played his next move. Originally I intended to transfer my Bishop to c5 in order to free d6 for my Knight, but there is a lack of time [16...Qf6-g5!=+ with the idea ...f7-f5 is much better. After 17.Nd2-e4 Qg5-g6 18.Ne4xd6 (otherwise Black can even take with the c-pawn on d6 after ...f7-f5)  18...Qg6xd6 followed by ...f7-f5 and ...e5-e4, the black knight is superior to the white bishop] 

17.Ra1-e1 a7-a5 

I invested 45 minutes into this move without getting any further. I hoped to gain some time, since I thought that my opponent had to react to Bb4 (with the "threat" of trading the bishop on d2 for the knight) with a3. [Originally I planned 17...Qf6-d8?, which was the reason why I played  16...Nc8 spielte. I wanted to play ...f7-f5 and that Qf6 again. But now I realised that 18.Nd2-f3! would be very strong since Black has problems to protect his e-pawn. (18.Qb3-f3 to prevent ...f7-f5 is good as well.) 18...Qd8-f6 (18...Rf8-e8 19.c4-c5! Bd6xc5 20.Nf3xe5±; 18...Qd8-e7 19.Qb3-e3 Rf8-e8 20.Bc2-a4±) 19.c4-c5! Bd6xc5 20.Nf3xe5±] 

18.Nd2-e4?? 

This move (and the idea that comes with it) is utterly dreadful. [After 18.a2-a3 I certainly would have tried 18...Ld6-c5. White wins a pawn after (18...Qf6-g5? 19.Nd2-f3 Qg5-h5 20.Qb3-d3 g7-g6 21.Bc2-d1!± is not what I wanted.) 19.Nd2-e4 Qf6-e7 20.Ne4xc5 Qe7xc5 21.Re1xe5 but at least Black can coordinate his forces and has the better minor piece 21...Sc8-d6 with a better position for White.] 

18...Qf6-e7 

Now Black can play his long planned advance ...f7-f5 without being forced to take care about e5. 

19.f2-f4 

Nearly forced. White cannot allow Black to gain space with ...f7-f5 and ...e5-e4.

19...e5xf4 20.Qb3-d3 f7-f5 21.Ne4xd6 Qe7xd6 22.Rf1xf4 Qd6-c5+ 23.Kg1-g2 

[23.Dd3-e3 does not force Black to trade, he can play 23...Nc8-d6! instead. The pawn structure on the queen side will be slightly weakened, but White cannot exploit this. Black will trade rooks and retain a clear advantage in the upcoming minor piece ending. 24.Qe3xc5 b6xc5 25.b2-b3 Rf8-f6 with the idea Kf8 and Re8] 

23...Nc8-d6=+ 

Black has everything was he has ever dreamed of. The white pawns on the queen side are completely blocked, and he has the superior minor piece.

24.g3-g4?! 

In beginning time trouble White loses the thread. [After 24.Re1-e6 b6-b5 (24...Rb8-e8 25.Qd3-e2 Re8xe6 26.Qe2xe6+ Kg8-h8 27.Bc2xf5 is nothing for Black.) 25.c4xb5 Rb8xb5 26.Bc2-b3 Rb5-b4 27.Rf4xb4 Qc5xb4=+ Black still needs to show some technique, as it is not easy to reach the white king in this line.] 

24...b6-b5!-/+ 

"A very strong move", as annotator GM Hort mentioned in the live coverage. The white position now collapses.

25.c4xb5 

[25.g4xf5? b5xc4-+] 

25...Rb8xb5 26.g4xf5 

[26.b2-b3 does not help either 26...Rb5-b4! 27.Re1-f1 (27.Rf4xb4? Qc5xb4 with attack on e1 and g4.) 27...Rf8-e8 and Black gains control of the e-file: 28.g4xf5 Re8-e3 29.Qd3-d2 Re3-e5 30.f5-f6 Re5-g5+ 31.Kg2-h3 (31.Kg2-h1? Rb4xf4 32.Qd2xf4 (32.Rf1xf4 Qc5-g1#) 32...Qc5xd5+-+; 31...Rg5xd5-+] 

26...Rb5xb2 27.Re1-e2 Rf8-e8 28.Re2xe8+ 

[After 28.Rf4-f2 Re8xe2 29.Rf2xe2 Qc5-c4! there are just to many weaknesses.] 

28...Nd6xe8 29.Rf4-c4 Qc5-e7 30.a2-a4 Qe7-g5+ 31.Kg2-h3 

An uncomfortable position with two minutes left for ten moves. The king will be hunted down soon, but it shows that other moves are no better. [31.Kg2-h1 Rb2-a2! 32.Qd3-d1 (32.Qd3-c3 Qg5-c1+ 33.Kh1-g2 Ra2-a1-+ and Black storms the back door) 32...Qg5-f6! 33.Qd1-e2 Ne8-d6 34.Rc4-f4 Kg8-h8 with a crumbling position for White.; 
31.Qd3-g3? Qg5-d2+ 32.Qg3-f2 (32.Kg2-h1 Rb2xc2-+) 32...Qd2xd5+ 33.Rc4-e4 Ne8-f6-+] 

31...Ne8-f6 32.Qd3-f3 Qg5-d2 33.Qf3-c3 

[33.Qf3-d3 Qd2xd3+ 34.Bc2xd3 Nf6xd5-+ and Black trades initiative for a winning material advantage.] 

33...Qd2-c1!? 

[33...Qd2xc3+ 34.Qc4xc3 Nf6xd5 35.Bc2-b3 Rb2-d2 is also possible, but I was not in the mood for a rook ending.] 

34.Rc4xc7?? 

The final mistake. [34.Qc3-d3 is the only move to keep the game going, but defence remains difficult: 34...Qc1-g1 and White has probems to avoid Zugzwang (!). 35.Qd3-f3 Rb2-a2 36.Qf3-d3 (36.Rc4xc7?? Ra2-a3!-+) 36...Ra2-a1! with the idea ...Ta1-f1 to prevent the white queen from accessing f3.] 

34...Dc1-f1+ 

White resigned in view of 34...Qc1-f1+ 35.Kh3-g3 (35.Kh3-h4 Qf1-f4+ 36.Kh4-h3 Qf4-g4#) 35...Qf1-g1+ 36.Kg3-f3 Qg1-g4+ 37.Kf3-e3 (37.Kf3-f2 Nf6-e4+-+) 37...Nf6xd5+-+

0-1

Sulava played this line (or something similar) against me in Cappelle La Grande 2001.

I obtained a superior position after the opening but in the end "only" achieved a draw (although at this time that was a big achievement, since I only had 2320 at this time and he was being rated 2530).

I am not at home (again), but will be tomorrow. I can dig up the game then and post it here, maybe it will give some insights.

I concur, the line with 3...Bg4 and 4...Qd7 followed by ...0-0-0 is dangerous for Black.

However, Black can play differently. A nice setup is 3...Bg4 4.Bg2 e6!, e.g. 5.0-0 Bd6 (but NOT 5...Nf6? when 6.Ne5! is annoying) followed by Nf6. Depending on White's (re-)action, Black can, in my opinion, achieve a good game.

I started playing the Chigorin Defence in 1999 after I have discovered the (at this time) terrific book by Dunnington.

I still use it as my only weapon against 1.d4, and even at a higher master level it served me quite well. I frequently use it even against IMs/GMs, and last season in the German Bundesliga I drew GM Gabriel (in a winning position, grr), lost to GM Nyback (but only after I blundered in an equal position) and beat GM Krasenkov (2671).   

I hope not to sound too confident (and I certainly do not want to brag with my results; I just want to give you an idea what a powerful weapon Chigorin can be), but I dare to consider myself an expert of this opening. Here are my two cents for the things already being mentioned.

First of all, I do think, too, that Black should play 2...Nc6! after 2.Nf3 - Although I do think that the best way for White to continue is 3.e3!? ... but I will cover this later.

Numerous possibilities have been mentioned here, which I will refer to one by one (Since 3.c4 transposes to main lines, I won't say anything about that in this topic):

3.Bf4

This line seems to be feared by some players, but just because it seems to be boring. Well, in a way it is, but in the same way it is just White giving up any hopes for an advantage. It is too much to describe the best setup, but I took the time to write a little summary with a few annotated games on my homepage. Unfortunately it is only in german, but it should be easy enough to understand. The link is:

http://www.schachmaterialien.de/Tschigorin/einleitungt0.htm

3.Bg5

I consider this a waste of time. Black can reply 3...f6! and obtain a good game. After 4.Bf4 Black gained a precious tempo after 4...Bg4 - f6 does not weaken the position but rather helps to support the important break ...e7-e5. White can't play 5.e3?? (5...e5 wins a piece) nor 5.Nbd2? (5...Nxd4 followed by ...e5 gives black an excellent game).

White can do 4.Bh4, but as already mentioned Black has the possibility of 4...Nh6 followed by ...Nf5. White is forced to retreat his bishop to g3, where it is harrassed by ...h5 (threatening ...h4). White will have to play h3 or h4 then, but after the trade on g3 the white pawn structure is severly crippled.

Finally it should be mentioned, that 3.e3!? is an interesting alternative. The idea is to play 4.Bb5! after 3...Bg4, with a possible threat of c4 followed by Qa4 and Ne5. Black has to play very carefully, I recommend a setup with ...e6 and ...Nge7 (do NOT develop the bishop to d6, it will have problems after a white c4), the bishop f8 is to be developed via g7. I haven't had much practical tests yet, but this looks interesting.

I just started playing the Chigorin, and met 3.Nc3 (after 1.Nf3 Nc6 2.d4 d5) I agree with Fernando Semprun that this is boring.  In the game I became adventurous and tried to spice things up by playing 3...f5   trying to play like the dutch...

Looks quite interesting, what do you think?

After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bg5 is interesting.  What about 3...Qd6!? threatening ...Qb4+.  Black might be able to get in a decent ...f6 and ...e5.  Also interesting would be ...f6 and then ...Nh6.  3...h6 4.Bh4 g5 looks weakening but I'm not so sure it's that bad either.

I'm not so sure about 3.Nc3...never seen it played.  Dunnington's book has the reply to 3.Bf4.  I know Black plays 3...Bg4, but unsure how it expands from there as it's been 4 years since I've played the Black side, and as White, I'd play 3.c4 (I have had a couple of tournament games start 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nc6 3.c4 Bg4, and now, instead of 4.cxd5, I'm beginning to look at 4.Nc3).

The book I have that I use at this point for the Chigorin doesn't cover 3.Bf4 as it's a reportoire book for White (Opening for White According to Kramnik, Volume 4).

I played the Chigorin back in 1999.  Black should play 2...Nc6!  If White replies 3.c4, you have transposed to the 3.Nf3 variations of the Chigorin.  Otherwise, White really has only 2 legitimate replies aside from 3.c4, those being 3.Bf4 and 3.g3, neither of which cause Black any problems provided he knows the lines.  They are both quite insipid (kinda like the 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.e3 lines).  While the book is now 7 years old, I still would recommend getting Angus Dunnington's book on the Chigorin Queen's Gambit if you haven't gotten it yet.  It gives some brief coverage of what to do when White doesn't comply.