Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack
The Stonewall Attack starts with 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3, aiming the bishop at h7 and preparing f4 and Ne5. Black wants to challenge the setup early with ...c5, ...Nc6 or ...Nb4 to trade the d3 bishop.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3
- ECO
- D00
- Engine
- −0.26 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 3,499 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 54.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Complete the Stonewall with f4, Nf3 and short castling, then put a knight on e5.
- Keep the d3 bishop aimed at h7 for a later kingside attack.
- If Black plays ...c4, retreat Be2 and keep the bishop rather than giving it up.
- Use h3 to stop ...Bg4 or ...Ng4 ideas before the attack starts.
Black
- 3...c5 with ...Nc6 hits d4 and can gain space with ...c4 to chase the bishop.
- Jump with ...Nb4 to trade the d3 bishop, White's main attacking piece.
- Develop the c8 bishop to f5 or g4 before White closes it out with e3 and Bd3.
- A fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7 blunts White's kingside plans and covers the king.
Plans and pawn structure
White's plan is simple: pawns on d4, e3 and f4, the bishop on d3, a knight on e5, and a kingside attack with Qf3 and rook lifts. Black should strike before that: ...c5 hits d4, ...c4 gains queenside space and pushes the bishop back, and ...Nb4 trades it. The e4 square and the dark squares around it are weak for White, so a Black knight there is strong.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.26: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.26 3...c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.h3 c4 6.Be2
- −0.18 3...g6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c4 Bg7 6.cxd5
- −0.17 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 Nb4 5.Nc3 Nxd3+ 6.cxd3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
3,499 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, do not wait. Play ...c5 and ...Nc6, and consider ...c4 or ...Nb4 to remove the d3 bishop. Develop the c8 bishop before playing ...e6. Avoid castling into the attack if White's bishop, queen and knight are already aimed at h7.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack?
The Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack starts 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3. Its ECO code is D00.
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.26 at depth 20, which is level. In 3,499 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.1%. A simple attacking system for club players, but Black gets a good game by hitting the center before f4 arrives.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack?
White aims for the Stonewall with e3, Bd3, f4 and a knight on e5, then attacks the king. Black strikes early with ...c5 and tries to trade the d3 bishop.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is c5, with g6 and Nc6 close behind. 3...c5 hits d4 at once and prepares ...Nc6 and ...c4 against the d3 bishop.
Related lines
- Queen's Pawn Game (1.d4 sidelines)
- Accelerated London System
- Chigorin Variation
- Modern Defense
- Zukertort Variation
- Symmetrical Variation
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.