Chess Opening Theory/1. Nc3/1...d5

van Geet opening
	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) rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/8/2N5/PPPPPPPP/R1BQKBNR
	Moves: 1. Nc3 d5
	ECO code: A00
	Parent: Starting position

1...d5

Black stakes a claim to the centre. Their d-pawn threatens to come to d4 and unseat White's knight.

If 2. d4, that danger is prevented. The game transposes into a version of the closed game where White's knight obstructs the usual move c4. No matter: White can try a Jobava-London system (Bf4) or Richter-Veresov attack (Bg5) instead.

2. e4 is more common, allowing 2...d4, which White answers with the manoeuvre Ne2 & Ng3.

Theory table

1. Nc3 d5

	2	3	4
	e4 d5	Ne2 e5	Ng3 Be6	⩱
Chigorin variation (by transposition)	d4 -

Chess Opening Theory/1. Nc3/1...d5

1...d5

Theory table

References

See also