Chessy
King's Pawn Opening: Bc5 – You Play White After 3.Qg4
Opening with 1.e4 and then surprising your opponent with 2.b3 is an offbeat way to unbalance the game. After Black develops their bishop to c5, you lunge forward with 3.Qg4 — attacking the g7-pawn right out of the gate. This position is unusual and dangerous for both sides. The engine rates it -1.47, a clear advantage for Black, meaning you are worse if both sides play perfectly. But in real club games, most of your opponents will not find the best defence. Over 408 games, White still scores a respectable 37.3% — and you can boost that by knowing exactly which Black moves are blunders and how to punish them. Let's dig into the statistics and the engine's recommended line so you can navigate this sharp opening with confidence. The interactive drill below will let you practise these ideas against a live opponent.
Play the King's Pawn Opening: Bc5 against the engine
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Practise the King's Pawn Opening: Bc5 now in the interactive drill below. Face Black's most common replies — Qf6, g6, d6, and d5 — and learn the refutations so
Create a free account →The Engine's Best Reply: 3…Nf6
The only move that keeps Black's full advantage is Nf6, discovered in 48 games. Stockfish recommends the following continuation: Nf6 Qh4 Nc6 Ba3. Black kicks your queen, develops their knight, and then forces you to deal with the b2-pawn being attacked. In this line your queen is awkwardly placed on h4 and Black has easy development. If you face Nf6, plan to retreat your queen to h4 and then trade or harass Black's bishop on c5 with Ba3. Your compensation is minimal — you need to hope your opponent missteps later.
The Most Common Mistake: 3…Qf6
By far the most popular reply is Qf6, played in 223 games. It looks natural — Black defends f7 and attacks the b2-pawn. But the engine calls it an inaccuracy (losing about 0.9 pawns compared to Nf6). White scores 33.6% from this position. After Qf6, you can simply play Qg3, defending b2 and threatening to trade queens. If Black takes on b2, your rook is loose, but Black's queen becomes stranded. You'll get active play and Black's position is harder to coordinate than it looks. Watch out for …d5, which can open the centre against your exposed queen.
Another Common Inaccuracy: 3…g6
Black's second-most-played response is g6 (66 games), trying to block your queen's attack. This is also an inaccuracy, losing about 0.8 pawns. White scores 40.9% from here — your best winning percentage among the common moves. After g6, your queen must move. Qh4 is the natural square, eyeing the h6-square and keeping pressure on Black's kingside. Black will likely play …Nf6 next, chasing your queen again. Your plan is to fianchetto your own dark-squared bishop on b2 (since you already played b3) and castle queenside. Black's kingside is slightly weakened by the g6 push, and you can sometimes crack it open with h4-h5 later.
The Worst Offenders: 3…d6 and 3…d5
Black's fourth-most-played move is d6 (24 games, White scores 37.5%). The engine labels d6 as a mistake, losing about 2.3 pawns compared to Nf6. After 3…d6, your queen is already attacking g7 and Black has weakened their dark squares. Play Qg3 or Qh4, trade queens if possible, and enjoy a development lead. The fifth response is d5 (only 19 games), where White scores a whopping 52.6% — your best result of any line. The push 3…d5? is very risky for Black. You should take: exd5. Black is under huge pressure — your queen attacks g7, and after …Qxd5 you can even play Nc3, attacking the queen and developing with tempo. Your position is active and Black never gets proper compensation.
Results across 408 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qf6 | 223 | 33.6% |
| g6 | 66 | 40.9% |
| Nf6 | 48 | 35.4% |
| d6 | 24 | 37.5% |
| d5 | 19 | 52.6% |
| Nc6 | 6 | 33.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Why would I play 2.b3 as White in the King's Pawn Opening?
Playing 2.b3 is an offbeat, flexible system. You avoid main-line theory, fianchetto your bishop on b2, and with 3.Qg4 you immediately put pressure on Black's kingside. While the engine gives Black an advantage after perfect play, real opponents rarely find the best defence, leading to uncomfortable positions for them and practical chances for you.
What should I do after Black plays 3…Nf6, the engine's best move?
Retreat your queen to h4 (4.Qh4). Black will likely continue with …Nc6, attacking your b2-pawn. You can respond with Ba3, pinning or trading the bishop on c5. Keep developing naturally and look for tactical chances. The position is still sharp and Black can slip.
Which Black moves should I hope for as White?
The most favourable for White is 3…d5 (White scores 52.6%), which you should meet with exd5. Next best is 3…g6 (White scores 40.9%), an inaccuracy you can punish with Qh4. Avoid hoping for 3…Qf6 — it's inaccurate but still tricky. Your goal is to know the best response to each so you never misstep.