Chessy
King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack — Playing White after 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 Nf6 3.Bc4
Welcome to the Napoleon Attack, an aggressive early-queen sortie that club players have tried for centuries. After 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 Nf6 3.Bc4, you have brought out your queen and a bishop but not yet developed a knight. The position is tricky but not yet losing — Stockfish evaluates it at -0.28, a small edge for Black, so you are slightly worse as White. The good news? Black also makes mistakes often. Below the drill, you can test your skill against an adaptive engine and see if you can prove the computers wrong.
Play the King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack: Nf6 against the engine
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Create a free account →What You Are Fighting For
The Napoleon Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Qf3) violates a classic principle — don't bring your queen out early. Still, the position after 3.Bc4 has a point: you are threatening 4.Qxf7 checkmate! Black has many replies, but none refute you instantly. Your job is to develop normally after this odd start, keep the queen safe, and not let Black's easy development punish you. The statistics from over 4.6 million games show this is playable at club level: White wins 48.6%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 47.5%. That's nearly a coin-flip, which tells you the opening is far from hopeless.
The Engine's Best Reply: c6
The engine recommends 3...c6 (played in 396,039 games), intending ...b5 to drive your bishop away. After 4.Nc3 b5 5.Bb3, Black gains space on the queenside while you can aim for d2-d3, Nf3, and castling. Note that White scores only 44.2% in this line — it's Black's most testing response. You should remember the setup: knight to c3, bishop retreat to b3, and try to prove that Black's pawn advances are overextended.
What the Statistics Reveal
The most popular reply by far is 3...Nc6 (1,681,979 games), where White scores 47.5% — almost dead even. Next comes 3...Bc5 (1,251,823 games) with White scoring 48.6%, also very balanced. The surprise is 3...d5 (164,056 games): White scores an excellent 58.0% in that line. If Black pushes ...d5, you can take with the queen or bishop, and apparently Black struggles to recover. So be alert — if Black gives you the chance to capture on d5, take it confidently.
Most Common Mistakes
Your most dangerous moment as White is overextending the queen. Beginners often chase after more threats like 4.Qg3, forgetting to develop knights and get castled. The statistics show that Black's natural developing moves (...Nc6, ...Bc5) give you nearly equal chances, while Black's defensive moves (...c6, ...Be7) are harder for you — scoring only 44.2% and 47.9% respectively. The fix is simple: play 4.Nc3 (or 4.Nf3) after Black's move, not another queen move. Develop, castle, and trust that your slight disadvantage is manageable.
Results across 4,631,638 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 1,681,979 | 47.5% |
| Bc5 | 1,251,823 | 48.6% |
| d6 | 470,620 | 49.6% |
| c6 | 396,039 | 44.2% |
| Be7 | 270,418 | 47.9% |
| d5 | 164,056 | 58.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Napoleon Attack a good opening for beginners?
It's not recommended as a main weapon because you bring the queen out early, violating development principles. At the club level it's playable — White scores 48.6% overall — but you will have an easier time with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3. Try this page's drill to see if the Napoleon suits your style.
What is the best move for Black against 2.Qf3?
The engine recommends 3...c6, planning ...b5 to attack your bishop. In practice, most players choose 3...Nc6 (natural development) or 3...Bc5. Against all three, your plan is the same: develop your knight, castle, and avoid moving the queen again unless necessary.
Does the Napoleon Attack have a quick checkmate?
Yes — the idea is 2.Qf3 threatening 3.Qxf7# if Black doesn't respond. But after 2...Nf6, the queen can't deliver mate, and after 3.Bc4, Black can block the threat with 3...Be7 or 3...d6. The trap only catches complete beginners.
How should White handle 3...d5?
This is actually good for you! White scores 58.0% after 3...d5. You can capture with the queen (4.Qxd5) or bishop (4.Bxd5). After 4.Qxd5 Nxd5 5.Bxd5, you have a bishop for a pawn with an improved position. Don't be afraid to take.