Openings 1.d4 d5: closed games
Colle System and Stonewall Attack: Setups and Stats by Rating
The Colle is a system: White plays d4, Nf3, e3, Bd3, c3, Nbd2 and O-O almost whatever Black does, then breaks with e4. It is easy to learn, and the d3 bishop aims straight at Black’s king.
D04Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System
Games from this position (1600–1999): 25k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | 6,251 | ||
| 20% | 4,895 | ||
| 18% | 4,487 | ||
| 11% | 2,838 | ||
| 10% | 2,480 | ||
| 7% | 1,636 | ||
| 5% | 1,271 | ||
| 2% | 513 | ||
| 0.6% | 157 | ||
| 0.6% | 142 | ||
| 0.5% | 113 | ||
| 0.2% | 57 |
Plans for both sides
White
- Colle-Koltanowski: c3, Nbd2, O-O, Re1 and e4. Once the center opens, the d3 bishop and the queen hit h7.
- Colle-Zukertort: b3 and Bb2 instead of c3, then Ne5 and f4 for a kingside attack.
- Stonewall Attack: pawns on c3, d4, e3 and f4 with Bd3 and Ne5. Strong against ...e6 setups, weaker against ...Bf5 or ...g6.
Black
- The best antidote is to develop the c8 bishop before ...e6: ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 takes the sting out of Bd3.
- Against the Colle, ...c5 and ...Nc6 with ...Bd6 and ...O-O are natural; meet e4 with ...dxe4 and ...cxd4.
- Against the Stonewall, trade off White’s attacking bishop with ...Bf5, or with ...b6 and ...Ba6.
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Colle System at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 7,6830.3% | 3...Nc635% | |
| 1200–1599 | 19k0.3% | 3...e625% | |
| 1600–1999 | 25k0.4% | 3...e625% | |
| 2000+ | 8,6940.4% | 3...e625% | |
| All | 61k0.3% | 3...e624% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
The classic setup. White prepares e4; Black stays solid with ...Qc7 or ...b6.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.O-O O-OThe b2 bishop joins the attack; White aims for Ne5 and f4.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.O-O Bd6 7.Bb2 O-OPawns on c3, d4, e3 and f4 lock the center; White plans Ne5, Nd2, O-O and a kingside attack.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 e6 4.f4 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nf3Black challenges the d3 bishop at once; White often trades with Bxf5 or plays c4.
616 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 4% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.Bd3 e6
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At club level
After 3.e3, Black develops the c8 bishop with 3...Bf5 or 3...Bg4 in about a third of games, which takes the bite out of the Bd3 attack. When Black plays ...e6 and ...c5 instead and White gets the classic c3 setup, White scores about 57%. The Stonewall with f4 scores about 60% below 2000 but only about 52% at 2000+.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Queen’s Pawn Game: 1.d4 d5
1.d4 d5
- Queen’s Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4
- London System
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4
- Queen’s Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
- Slav and Semi-Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
- Queen’s Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4