Chessy
Queen’s Pawn Game: Krause Variation — Black’s guide
The Queen’s Pawn Game: Krause Variation begins with a direct challenge to White’s centre after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5. As Black, you are not just copying moves — you are asking White to decide whether to hold the centre, push forward, or trade it off. The resulting position is active, but the engine gives White a small edge, so your drill is about playing accurately and keeping the position under control. Focus on the most testing reply and learn how to meet White’s common choices.
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Create a free account →What Black is aiming for
Your move to c5 is the point of the opening. It immediately pressures White’s d4 pawn and tries to turn the game into a more dynamic struggle than a quiet queen’s pawn setup. That is useful if you want early imbalance and are happy to play for piece activity rather than a passive defence.
The key practical idea is simple: do not let White comfortably build a centre while you fall behind in development. Be ready to meet White’s next decision with sound development and pressure on the centre.
The engine’s main test
Stockfish rates this +0.44, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The engine’s best move is c4, and it continues with c4 cxd4 cxd5 Nf6. In other words, White’s most testing reply is to strike back in the centre instead of drifting into a slow build-up. If you face this move in the drill, your goal is to stay active and not drift into an inferior ending of the opening phase.
What the database says White usually does
The position is common enough to have a large practical footprint: 3,075,303 games at this exact spot in the Lichess database. White’s results are fairly balanced overall, with White wins 49.3%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 46.7%.
That does not mean the position is equal in a perfect sense, but it does show that Black gets chances to play. You should expect a practical battle where accuracy matters more than memorising long theory.
The replies you will see most often
White most often chooses e3, and you should be ready for that calm developing move. The next most common replies are dxc5, c3, Bf4, and c4, with Nc3 also appearing in the database.
These moves tell you what kind of struggle this opening creates: White can either develop normally, capture, or challenge the centre. As Black, stay alert to the central tension and keep your pieces moving efficiently so White does not get an easy grip.
A mistake to punish
Nc3 is marked as an inaccuracy here, and it loses about 0.5 pawns; better was c4.
That is a useful practical warning for the drill. If White plays Nc3, you should recognise that the position is already slightly off balance in your favour compared with the recommended continuation. Stay alert and use the extra tempo to simplify White’s choices and keep pressure on the centre.
Results across 3,075,303 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 739,044 | 49.3% |
| dxc5 | 595,009 | 47.2% |
| c3 | 504,662 | 50.4% |
| Bf4 | 415,215 | 50.2% |
| c4 | 339,487 | 51.6% |
| Nc3 | 160,442 | 47.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but the engine gives White a small edge with +0.44. That means you should treat it as an active defence, not as a line that promises an advantage for Black.
What is Black’s main idea after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5?
Black hits White’s centre immediately with c5. The idea is to challenge d4 early and steer the game into a more dynamic struggle.
What is White’s best move in this position?
The engine’s best move is c4. It continues with c4 cxd4 cxd5 Nf6 and is the most testing reply in the position.
Which White moves happen most often here?
The most-played continuations are e3, dxc5, c3, Bf4, c4, and Nc3. In practice, that means you should be ready for both quiet development and direct central play.
How many games feature the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation position. White wins 49.3%, Black wins 46.7%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.