Chess Openings Lab
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King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack

The Wayward Queen Attack is 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5, bringing the queen out to hit e5 and f7 at once. White hopes Black misses the Bc4 and Qxf7 mate idea, while Black wants to defend calmly and then gain time by hitting the queen.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5
ECO
C20
Engine
−0.32 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
28,340 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Threaten Qxe5+ right away and add Bc4 to set up Qxf7 mate against careless defense.
  • After ...g6 the queen usually retreats; the engine line goes Qd1, which costs time but stays solid.
  • Qf3 keeps the f7 pressure if Black plays ...g6, but watch for ...Nf6 and ...Nd4 hitting it.
  • Develop Nc3 and d3 afterward; the attack is over once f7 and e5 are covered.

Black

  • 2...Nc6 guards e5; after Bc4, play ...g6 to block the queen's line to f7.
  • Then ...Nf6 and ...Bg7 develop with tempo against the queen and leave Black better developed.
  • 2...d6 is also fine: it guards e5 and opens the c8 bishop, followed by ...g6 and ...Nf6.
  • 2...Nf6 gives up e5 after Qxe5+, which leads to the Kiddie Countergambit; know it before you play it.

Plans and pawn structure

Once Black covers e5 with ...Nc6 or ...d6 and blocks the queen with ...g6, White's queen has to move again. Black then develops ...Bg7, ...Nf6 and castles, and often uses ...Na5 to hunt the c4 bishop. White's best is to regroup with Qd1 or Qf3, Nc3 and d3, reaching a slightly worse but playable open game where e4 faces e5.

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 −0.32: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.32 2...Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.Qd1 Bg7 5.Nc3
  2. −0.32 2...d6 3.Bc4 g6 4.Qd1 Nf6 5.Nc3
  3. −0.15 2...Nf6 3.Qxe5+ Be7 4.Qf4 Nc6 5.e5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

28,340 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.2%.

under 120052.2%
1200–159951.6%
1600–199954.2%
2000 and up57.1%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, play 2...Nc6, then answer Bc4 with ...g6 and Qf3 with ...Nf6. Never play ...Nf6 while the queen and Bc4 both hit f7 and nothing blocks. Once you castle, use the extra tempi to take the center with ...d6 or ...d5.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack?

The King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5. Its ECO code is C20.

Is the King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.32 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 28,340 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.2%. A popular trap at lower ratings, but a Black player who knows ...Nc6 and ...g6 gets a comfortable position every time.

What is the main idea of the King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack?

White brings the queen out early to threaten e5 and set up Bc4 with mate on f7. Black guards e5 with ...Nc6, blocks with ...g6, and then gains time hitting the queen.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc6, with d6 and Nf6 close behind. 2...Nc6 defends e5 with development, so Black can answer Bc4 with ...g6.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.