The Chigorin Defence arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 (ECO D07). Black develops the knight to c6, blocking the c-pawn - a move that breaks classical dogma but produces active piece play.
The idea is pure Mikhail Chigorin: piece activity and the initiative matter more than a «correct» pawn structure. Black is happy to trade bishops for knights, press on White's centre and play dynamically.
The Chigorin is an unusual, combative weapon for Black against the Queen's Gambit, taking the game off the beaten track as early as move two.
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