King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack
The Napoleon Attack is 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3, bringing the queen out at once to eye f7 with Bc4 next. Black wants to block the threat with ...Nf6 and develop with gain of time, while White hopes for a quick mate or an early mistake.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3
- ECO
- C20
- Engine
- −0.38 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 12,340 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Combine the queen with Bc4 to aim at f7; if Black ignores it, Qxf7 is mate.
- Since the queen blocks f3, the king's knight goes to e2 instead, as in the engine lines with Nge2.
- After ...c6 and ...b5, keep the bishop alive with Bb3 and use Na4 to jump around the queenside.
- Retreat the queen early if needed; it does no good stuck on f3 once f7 is covered.
Black
- 2...Nf6 shuts the f-file in front of f7 and develops a piece at once.
- Gain time with ...c6, ...b5 and ...b4, as in the top engine line, chasing the bishop and the c3 knight.
- Play ...Nc6 and ...d5 when ready, breaking in the center while White's queen is misplaced.
- Check every move for Qxf7 tricks until f7 is solidly guarded.
Plans and pawn structure
After 2...Nf6 the mate threat is gone and White must develop around a poorly placed queen. Expect Bc4, Nc3 and Nge2, with the queen often stepping back later. Black takes space on the queenside with ...c6 and ...b5-b4, then aims for ...d5 to open the center. The open game e4 against e5 favors the side with better development, so Black should keep gaining tempi and castle short quickly.
Where the engine's main line heads: Open game: e4 against e5. An open game: e4 against e5. Development, the f7 and f2 squares, and the d4 or d5 break are what count.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.38: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.38 2...Nf6 3.Bc4 c6 4.Nc3 b5 5.Bb3
- −0.27 2...Be7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 c6 5.Nge2
- −0.20 2...a5 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.a3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
12,340 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, answer with 2...Nf6 or ...Nc6, not slow pawn moves that leave f7 hanging. Follow with ...c6 and ...d5 to punish the early queen. Do not panic about Qxf7: once the f6 knight and the f8 bishop are out, the threat is easy to meet.
Questions
What are the moves of the King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack?
The King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3. Its ECO code is C20.
Is the King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.38 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 12,340 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.7%. Useful only as a trap against beginners; prepared Black players get a comfortable game quickly.
What is the main idea of the King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack?
White brings the queen out early to target f7 with Bc4. Black blocks with ...Nf6, then uses ...c6, ...b5 and ...d5 to gain time against White's misplaced pieces.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nf6, with Be7 and a5 close behind. 2...Nf6 develops and blocks the f-file, so Bc4 no longer brings a mate threat on f7.
Related lines
- King's Pawn Game (1.e4 sidelines)
- Leonardis Variation
- Wayward Queen Attack
- King's Knight Opening
- Busch-Gass Gambit
- McConnell Defense
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.