The Chigorin Defence (1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6) is a dynamic and provocative response to Whites 1 d4. Rather than set out a defensive stall with systems based on moves such as ...e6 and ...c6 Black prefers to initiative immediate piece play in the centre. The benefits of this strategy are that Blacks queenside pieces which are often difficult to develop in the Queens Gambit participate in the struggle at once. The queens knight emerges immediately onto an active square and the path is left free for the