Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Bc4/2...Qh4

Bishop's Opening: Sideline 2... Qh4?
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnb1kbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/2B1P2q/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK1NR w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Qh4

Bishop's Opening - Sideline 2... Qh4?

2…Qh4? does not have a variation name. It cannot be considered a serious move because involving the Black Queen so early in the opening violates the most basic principles of opening strategy, such as developing before the knights and the bishops and castling the king to a safe place.

By playing 3. Nc3!, White achieve a significant advantage developing the minor pieces and also defend the pawn e4 from the naive treatment of the Black attack by the Queen. Losing precious time, Black will soon get inferior and strategically lost.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Qh4?

	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Sideline 2... Qh4?	Nc3! Nf6	Nf3 Qh5	d4 exd4	Nb5 Bb4+	c3 dxc3	O-O cxb2	Bxb2 Na6	e5 Ng4	Qd4	±
	... Bc5	Qe2 d6	Nf3 Qd8	Na4 Bb6	Nxb6 axb6	d4				±

References

Bibliography

• Kasparov, Gary & Keene, Raymond (1989, 1994). Batsford Chess Openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.
• Lane, Gary (1993). Winning With the Bishop's Opening. ISBN 0-7134-7113-1.

External links

• Goeller, Michael. The Bishop's Opening.
• Harding, Tim (August 1998). The Kibitzer: What Exactly is the Bishop's Opening?. ChessCafe.com.
• Harding, Tim (September 1998). The Kibitzer: The Eternal Appeal Of The Urusov Gambit. ChessCafe.com.
• Harding, Tim (October 1998). The Kibitzer: Is the Urusov Gambit Sound?. ChessCafe.com