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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                                  July 7, 2000


Chesapeake Energy Corporation
6100 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK  73118

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about July 7, 2000. The
Registration Statement covers the offer and sale of 20,000,000 shares (the
"Shares") of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Chesapeake Energy
Corporation (the "Company"), including 9,468,985 shares to be resold by the
selling shareholders (the "Selling Shareholder Shares") as provided in the
Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and an indeterminate number
of shares which may be issued (i) to the selling shareholders upon a purchase
price adjustment pursuant to Section 10.1 of the purchase agreements filed as
Exhibits 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 to the Registration Statement and (ii) to holders
of 14 1/8% Series B Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2006 of Gothic Energy
Corporation. We have also examined your Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and
your minute books and other corporate records, and have made such other
investigation as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinions
expressed herein.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Selling
Shareholder Shares have been legally issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, and the balance of the Shares, when issued in accordance with the
terms authorized by the Board of Directors, will be legally issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, in accordance with the Oklahoma General Corporation Act.

         Consent is hereby given for the inclusion of this opinion as part of
the Registration Statement.

                                             Very truly yours,


                                             /s/ WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

                                             WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.