Openings 1.d4 d5: closed games
1.d4 d5: Every Second Move for White, Main and Rare
1...d5 stops e4 and leads to the closed games. White’s second move decides the family: 2.c4 is the Queen’s Gambit, 2.Bf4 the London, and quiet setups with Nf3 and e3 lead to the Colle or the Stonewall. This page also covers the rare second moves that have names of their own.
D00Queen's Pawn Game
Games from this position (1600–1999): 728k
- 1.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38% | 279k | ||
| 19% | 138k | ||
| 18% | 130k | ||
| 8% | 60k | ||
| 7% | 52k | ||
| 3% | 25k | ||
| 2% | 15k | ||
| 1% | 7,954 | ||
| 0.8% | 5,987 | ||
| 0.7% | 5,225 | ||
| 0.3% | 2,504 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 2.c4 is the most common move from 1200 up and almost half the games at 2000+; below 1200, 2.Bf4 (the London) is played more often.
- 2.Nf3 and 2.e3 keep the London, the Colle and the Queen’s Gambit open; 2.Nc3 leads to the Veresov or the Rapport-Jobava setup.
- 2.e4 is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and 2.Bg5 the Levitsky Attack, two sharp ways to avoid theory.
Black
- Against 2.c4 choose a structure: ...e6 (Declined), ...c6 (Slav) or ...dxc4 (Accepted).
- Against the quiet systems, ...Nf6 with ...c5 or ...Bf5 is the simplest way to equalize.
- Against 2.Bg5, 2...h6 or 2...c6 asks the bishop what it wants; 2...f6 is playable but loosens the king.
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Queen’s Pawn Game: 1.d4 d5 at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 d5 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 | 356k11.8% | 2.Bf425% | |
| 1200–1599 | 713k12.0% | 2.c430% | |
| 1600–1999 | 728k11.4% | 2.c438% | |
| 2000+ | 193k9.5% | 2.c447% | |
| All | 2M11.4% | 2.c433% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
The flexible move order: White can still choose the Queen’s Gambit, the London or the Colle.
166k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 6% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6A quiet start that usually becomes a Colle (Nf3, c3, Nbd2) or a Stonewall (f4). Both have their own guide.
16k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 4% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3The knight blocks the c-pawn, so White plays for e4 instead: Bg5 (Veresov) or Bf4 (Rapport-Jobava).
69k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 4% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4The bishop pins nothing yet; Black asks it to decide with ...h6, or prepares ...Qb6 with ...c6.
244 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 46%, 7% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 c6An early queen move that prepares e4. White scores only about 45% after it here.
5,490 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 42%, 4% were drawn, Black won 53%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Qd3White gives a pawn for quick development and an open f-file. It has its own guide.
38k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 4% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3
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At club level
Below 1200, 2.Nc3 and 2.e3 are each played in about one game in seven, and 2.c4 in only one in five. At 2000+ the Queen’s Gambit is close to half of all games, with 2.Nf3 next at about a quarter. White scores about 53% after 1...d5 at every rating.
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 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
- Colle System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3