Chessy
King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation 3.Qg4
The Leonardis Variation of the King's Pawn Game starts quietly with 1.e4 e5 2.d3 — only for White to suddenly lunge with 3.Qg4. This early queen sortie attacks the g7 pawn and the loose bishop on c5 at the same time. It looks aggressive, but the computer gives this position -0.37, a small edge for Black. That means you are slightly worse here, so you'll need to play accurately. The drill below will help you learn the key replies and the most common mistakes Black makes in response.
Play the King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation: Bc5 against the engine
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Play through the position below and practise punishing Black's most common mistakes. A free account will track your progress across dozens of openings.
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With 3.Qg4 you are not playing for a lasting positional edge. Instead, you're creating immediate tactical tension. The queen attacks g7 and eyes the bishop on c5, forcing Black to react. If Black misplaces their queen or neglects development, you can grab a pawn or win time. The engine's top reply is Nf6, blocking the check and developing with tempo. If Black plays something else — and the statistics show they often do — your queen can be a real nuisance. Your main job is to keep the initiative alive without leaving the queen exposed.
The Engine's Best Continuation
When faced with 3.Qg4, the computer recommends 3...Nf6, which chases your queen right away. The full line runs Nf6 Qg3 Nc6 Nf3. After Qg3 the queen retreats to a safe square, Black develops the knight to c6, and you bring out your own knight. The position becomes a normal-looking opening where you have your pieces out. The evaluation stays around -0.37, so you are still slightly worse, but nothing catastrophic. This is the line you should aim for — or be ready to face if your opponent knows the best reply.
What the Statistics Reveal
Out of 10,050 games from this position, the results are tight but favour Black slightly: White wins 45.9%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 50.4%. The most popular move is Qf6 (5,638 games), where White scores only 44.6%. That sounds bad, but here's the catch: Qf6 is actually an inaccuracy that loses about 0.6 pawns. Your opponent is often making things worse for themselves by playing what 'looks natural.' The move Nf6 (the engine's top pick) appears in just 1,082 games — most club players don't find it. That's good news for you.
Punishing Black's Mistakes
Several of Black's most common replies are genuine errors. The engine flags d6 as a mistake (losing ~1.8 pawns) and d5 as a mistake (losing ~1.7 pawns). Both push a pawn instead of chasing your queen with Nf6, giving you time to consolidate or grab material. Even the very popular Qf6 is an inaccuracy. Your task in the drill is to spot these subpar moves and capitalise. If Black plays d6 or d5, you can quickly improve your position. The one reply to be careful against is the engine's top pick, Nf6 — but as the numbers show, most opponents won't play it.
Results across 10,050 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qf6 | 5,638 | 44.6% |
| g6 | 1,755 | 45.1% |
| Nf6 | 1,082 | 47.3% |
| d6 | 551 | 49.7% |
| d5 | 272 | 47.4% |
| Bxf2+ | 221 | 50.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 3.Qg4 a good move for White?
Statistically, White scores 45.9% from this position and the engine gives a -0.37 evaluation, meaning Black has a small edge. It's playable at club level, especially against opponents who don't know the best reply Nf6, but it's not a top-tier opening move.
What is the best reply to 3.Qg4?
The engine recommends 3...Nf6, attacking the queen and forcing it to move. The computer suggests Qg3, then Nc6 and Nf3 for White. This line gives Black the small advantage reflected in the -0.37 evaluation.
Why do so many players choose Qf6?
Qf6 looks natural — it defends g7 and attacks the f2 pawn. It's played in over 5,600 games. However, the engine calls it an inaccuracy that loses about 0.6 pawns compared to Nf6. It overextends the queen and gives White chances to gain time.
Can White punish d6 or d5 from Black?
Yes. Both d6 and d5 are classified as mistakes, losing roughly 1.8 and 1.7 pawns respectively. They waste time in a position where Black should be developing with Nf6. In the drill you'll learn how to take advantage of these pawn pushes.
How many games feature the King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation: Bc5?
Over 10K Lichess games have reached the King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation: Bc5 position. White wins 45.9%, Black wins 50.4%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.