Chessy
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack — how to play it as White
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qd3, you step into the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack. This is an unusual queen development, so the first job is to stay calm and understand the position rather than memorise a long line. The drill below lets you practise the critical moment from the starting position where it is Black to move. You will see what the engine prefers, which replies are most common, and which moves are often judged too imprecise.
Play the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is asking you to do
This opening is about testing Black’s setup early with an offbeat queen move. Because the queen comes out so soon, you should keep an eye on development and king safety on both sides. Your aim is not to chase tricks at random, but to reach a playable middlegame where your pieces are active and your centre is solid. The position after 3.Qd3 is already a practical battleground, so the drill focuses on handling Black’s answer accurately.
What the engine wants Black to play
Stockfish rates this -0.72, a clear, lasting advantage for Black. That means you are worse here, so you need to be accurate and realistic about the position. The engine’s best move is c5, and the main continuation listed is c5 dxc5 Nc6 Nf3. In other words, this is a moment where Black can challenge your setup immediately, so your training should centre on meeting that active reaction without drifting into a passive position.
What the numbers say about practical play
Across 143,192 games at this exact position, White wins 46.6%, draws 3.4%, and Black wins 49.9%. That tells you the position is playable in practice, but it is not giving you an easy edge. Among the most-played continuations, Nc6 appears in 56,053 games, e6 in 35,024, g6 in 22,489, c6 in 7,518, c5 in 5,329, and Bg4 in 4,772. The database picture matches the engine message: Black has the more comfortable path if you do not handle the reply well.
The replies to know first
The most common continuation is Nc6, and it is marked as an inaccuracy; the better move was c5. g6 is also an inaccuracy, with c5 again the better move. c6 is another inaccuracy, and here too c5 is the preferred answer. The practical lesson is simple: when you face those replies, do not assume Black has played the most accurate move just because it is popular. In your drill, focus on keeping your development on track and not letting Black’s improved central play become free.
Results across 143,192 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 56,053 | 45.9% |
| e6 | 35,024 | 48.0% |
| g6 | 22,489 | 45.6% |
| c6 | 7,518 | 47.6% |
| c5 | 5,329 | 37.4% |
| Bg4 | 4,772 | 50.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack good for White?
Not according to the engine evaluation here. Stockfish gives -0.72, a clear, lasting advantage for Black. You can still play it, but you need to know the position well and handle Black’s best reactions accurately.
What is Black’s best move against 3.Qd3?
The engine’s best move is c5. The listed continuation is c5 dxc5 Nc6 Nf3, so Black immediately challenges the centre and follows up actively.
Which replies are most common in practice?
Nc6 is the most played continuation with 56,053 games, followed by e6, g6, c6, c5, and Bg4. The database shows that Black often chooses a straightforward developing move, so you should be ready for that first.
Which moves are flagged as mistakes here?
Nc6, g6, and c6 are all marked as inaccuracies, and in each case c5 was better. That makes the drill useful: you can learn which replies to expect and which central response Black should have found instead.
How many games feature the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack?
Over 143K Lichess games have reached the Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack position. White wins 46.6%, Black wins 49.9%, with 3.4% draws — based on real rated games.