Chessy
How to Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre as Black
After 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4, you are already in a sharp little decision point as Black. Your bishop comes out early, and White must choose how to meet the pressure on the centre. The position is practical, but the numbers show you are not claiming a free ride: White keeps a clear edge if you drift. Use the drill below to learn the most reliable reply, recognise the common mistakes, and handle the position with confidence rather than hope.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre against the engine
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Play the drill below and test your response as Black. Create a free account to track your opening prep and return to it anytime.
Create a free account →What the position is asking for
This opening is about active piece play, not passive defence. With your bishop on g4, you are putting immediate pressure on White's centre and asking White to react to the pin ideas around d4. The position is still White to move, so your job is to know what move you want to meet and what structure you are aiming for after that. If you play this setup, you need to stay alert and respond to White's central choices with purpose.
The engine's main message
Stockfish rates this +0.71, a clear advantage for White. That means you are worse here and must play accurately to keep the game going. The engine's best move is Ne5, and the continuation given is Ne5 Bc8 c4 e6. In simple terms, the best practical approach is to challenge the centre and stay ready to regroup rather than letting White build comfortably.
What the database says White usually plays
In the large game sample, White most often chooses e3, Bf4, Ne5, Nc3, Nbd2, or h3. The most common move is e3 with 1,127,692 games, followed by Bf4 with 614,279 games. That tells you what to expect most often in the drill: White usually develops or prepares the centre rather than rushing into tactics. Your best results will come from knowing your plan against these natural developing moves.
The mistakes to punish
Three moves are marked as inaccuracies here: e3, Nc3, and h3. The key point is that all three give you a clearer target than you might expect, and the engine says Ne5 was better in each case. So if White plays one of these, do not relax — keep your pieces active, keep pressure on the centre, and make sure you do not give back the tempo with loose play. This is the kind of position where one accurate response can stop White from turning a small plus into a big one.
What kind of game this usually becomes
The statistics are not friendly for Black: White scores 50.6%, draws 4.3%, and Black wins 45.1% across 3,832,973 games at this exact position. That does not mean the opening is unplayable, but it does mean you should expect a long fight where White is slightly more comfortable. If you enjoy active development, early piece pressure, and a position where move order matters, this can still be a useful weapon — as long as you know the critical reply and do not drift into passive defence.
Results across 3,832,973 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 1,127,692 | 50.7% |
| Bf4 | 614,279 | 50.5% |
| Ne5 | 454,259 | 53.9% |
| Nc3 | 330,492 | 47.6% |
| Nbd2 | 315,006 | 51.5% |
| h3 | 305,406 | 46.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre good for Black?
It is playable, but the numbers show White has a clear, lasting advantage. Stockfish gives +0.71, so you should treat this as a position where Black needs accuracy rather than a line that promises an easy equal game.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine's best move is Ne5. The suggested continuation is Ne5 Bc8 c4 e6, which shows that Black should challenge White's setup and stay active rather than waiting passively.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most common choices are e3, Bf4, Ne5, Nc3, Nbd2, and h3. Among these, e3 is the most played, so it is worth drilling that response first.
Which White moves are mistakes in this position?
e3, Nc3, and h3 are all listed as inaccuracies. In each case, the engine says Ne5 was better, so those moves give you a chance to meet White with a sharper and more accurate reaction.
How many games feature the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre?
Over 4 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre position. White wins 50.6%, Black wins 45.1%, with 4.3% draws — based on real rated games.