Chigorin Defense
Black's complete intermediate repertoire in the Chigorin Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6). Seven drills cover the 3.Nc3 dxc4 main line with ...Bg4 and ...Bxc3, the 3.Nf3 Bg4 Janowski trade, the 3.cxd5 Qxd5 central exchange, the 3.Nc3 Nf6 symmetrical sideline, the 3.e3 e5 Tartakower counter, the sharp 3.Nc3 e5 piece sacrifice, and the quiet 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.e3 system.
The Chigorin Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6!?) is the original 'piece-play vs structure' opening — Black develops actively from move two and is happy to trade the bishop pair for doubled c-pawns and dynamic central play. This pack drills the seven essential paths: the mainline 3.Nc3 dxc4 with ...Bg4 and the thematic ...Bxc3, the 3.Nf3 Bg4 Janowski trade that wrecks White's kingside, the 3.cxd5 Qxd5 central exchange with ...e5, the 3.Nc3 Nf6 quieter sideline with the b8-knight rerouting, the 3.e3 e5 Tartakower counter that equalises on the spot, the sharp 3.Nc3 e5 with the knight planted on d4, and the quiet 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.e3 system. Thirty exam positions sharpen the ...Bb4 / ...Bxc3 trade timing, the central ...e5 / ...e4 breaks, and the Chigorin knight maneuvers that turn this 19th-century 'eccentric' into a fully tournament-tested weapon.