King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie Countergambit
The Kiddie Countergambit is 2...Nf6 against the Wayward Queen, developing with tempo and leaving e5 hanging. White can take the pawn with check, while Black aims to use the lead in development and the exposed queen to attack along the e-file.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nf6
- ECO
- C20
- Engine
- −0.24 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 4,679 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 47.5%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 3.Qxe5+ Be7 4.Qf4 is the top engine line: grab the pawn and retreat the queen to a safe square.
- Develop Nc3 and d4 next, but watch for ...Nxd4 tricks against the queen and c2.
- Avoid 3.Qf3 and 3.Qe2, which give up the e5 pawn without gaining anything.
- Castle quickly; the e-file opens and Black's rook will come to e8.
Black
- After 3.Qxe5+ Be7, castle and play ...Nc6 and ...Re8, hitting the queen and pinning on the e-file.
- Use ...d5 to open lines while White's queen is still on f4 or e5.
- Look for ...Nxd4 and ...Nb5 tricks in the engine line, aiming at c2 and the queen.
- Against 3.Qf3, play ...Nc6 and ...d5 for a free center and fast development.
Plans and pawn structure
If White takes on e5, Black has a pawn less but three pieces out, and the plan is ...O-O, ...Nc6, ...Re8 and ...d5 to open the center. White must spend moves on the queen, then try Nc3, d4 and short castling to keep the extra pawn. If White declines with Qf3 or Qe2, Black has a clean open game with ...d5 and easy development, often already a bit better.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.24: level. Its three top choices for White:
- −0.24 3.Qxe5+ Be7 4.Qf4 O-O 5.Nc3 Nc6
- −0.98 3.Qe2 d5 4.exd5 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O
- −1.33 3.Qf3 Nc6 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bb5 Bd7
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
4,679 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.5%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, take the pawn with 3.Qxe5+ and retreat with Qf4. Do not leave the queen on the e-file once Black's rook arrives on e8. Develop knights before pushing more pawns, and castle short quickly.
Questions
What are the moves of the King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie Countergambit?
The King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie Countergambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nf6. Its ECO code is C20.
Is the King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie Countergambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.24 at depth 20, which is level. In 4,679 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.5%. A fun, sound answer for Black players who prefer activity over material, but White can keep the pawn with careful queen moves.
What is the main idea of the King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie Countergambit?
Black gives the e5 pawn to develop with tempo against White's queen. After 3.Qxe5+ Be7 4.Qf4, Black castles and uses the e-file and ...d5 for active play.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Qxe5+, with Qe2 and Qf3 close behind. 3.Qxe5+ takes the pawn with check, the only way to justify the early queen move.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.