Chessy
Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation with Bf4 — Playing Black
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.Bf4 cxd4, you reach the starting point of the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation with Bf4. It's White to move, and you already have good reason to be optimistic. Across more than 145,000 games from this exact position, Black actually wins more often than White — 49.3% to White's 46.9%. Stockfish calls this dead level at nearly zero, so the opening hasn't given either side an edge. That makes this a great practical weapon: you get a playable, unbalanced game without having to memorise reams of theory. The interactive drill below will help you handle White's most popular replies and steer the game your way.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation: Bf4 against the engine
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Try the interactive drill below to practise Black's response against each of White's possible moves — the engine adapts to your level so you'll learn faster.
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
The Krause Variation is all about challenging White's centre early. By playing 2...c5, you immediately question the d4-pawn, and after 3.Bf4 cxd4 you've forced White to decide how to recapture. The bishop on f4 is a bit exposed — it can become a target, especially if White recaptures with the queen. Your main trumps are quick development and the half-open c-file. Black's winning percentage (49.3% vs 46.9%) shows this is not just a solid equaliser; it's a line where you can outplay your opponent if they don't know the nuances. The key is to stay alert for White's most common inaccuracies — because they happen a lot.
The Critical Decision: How White Recaptures
White has several ways to take back on d4, and each leads to a different character of game. By far the most popular is 4.Nxd4 (99,759 games), where White scores a modest 47.5% — meaning Black scores over 52%. The queen recapture 4.Qxd4 appears in over 38,000 games but is actually an inaccuracy according to the engine (it loses about 0.8 pawns of advantage; the engine says c3 was better). Even worse are 4.e3 and 4.Nbd2, both marked as mistakes that cost White roughly one pawn or more. Against all of these, you simply develop naturally: bring out your knight to c6, develop your dark-squared bishop, and castle quickly. The engine's favourite response for White is 4.Bxb8, an unusual trade of bishop for knight on b8 — we'll look at that next.
The Engine's Top Choice: 4.Bxb8
If your opponent plays 4.Bxb8, don't panic — it's Stockfish's preferred move at depth 16, but the evaluation is still only -0.08. White gives up the bishop pair to disrupt your structure. The continuation goes 4.Bxb8 Qa5+ 5.c3 Rxb8. You get the rook out immediately, your queen develops with check, and the pawn on c3 can become a long-term target. You'll have the bishop pair in an open position, which is a nice asset. The statistics back this up: in the 2,218 games where White chose Bxb8, White scored only 50.0% — exactly even, not an edge. So you can confidently meet this line knowing you have full compensation.
Three Mistakes to Watch For
If White picks one of the weaker replies, you should be ready to capitalise. The engine identifies three concrete mistakes from this position, and they're surprisingly common. 4.Qxd4 is an inaccuracy — White loses about 0.8 pawns. The queen becomes a target after Nc6, and you gain time. 4.e3 is worse (loses roughly 1.1 pawns); it's passive and lets you seize the centre with e5 or just develop with a lead. 4.Nbd2 is the worst of the three, losing about 1.3 pawns — the knight on d2 blocks the bishop and does nothing useful. The engine says c3 was best in all these cases. Knowing these, you can punish common amateur moves and gain a real edge before the middlegame even starts.
Results across 145,205 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd4 | 99,759 | 47.5% |
| Qxd4 | 38,357 | 45.8% |
| e3 | 2,812 | 42.2% |
| Bxb8 | 2,218 | 50.0% |
| c3 | 1,054 | 47.2% |
| Nbd2 | 299 | 40.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation Bf4 good for Black?
Yes, it's a very practical choice. From this position Black scores 49.3% compared to White's 46.9% across over 145,000 games, and the engine calls the position dead level (-0.08). You get a fighting game without needing deep theoretical knowledge.
What is the best move for White after 3...cxd4?
According to Stockfish at depth 16, White's best move is 4.Bxb8, an unusual exchange sacrifice of the bishop for the knight. But even then the position stays nearly equal. The most common move by far is 4.Nxd4, where Black scores well over 50%.
What are the worst moves White can play here?
4.e3 and 4.Nbd2 are both classified as mistakes, losing about 1.1 and 1.3 pawns respectively. 4.Qxd4 is an inaccuracy (losing about 0.8 pawns). The engine suggests 4.c3 was better in all these cases.
How should Black respond to 4.Nxd4?
Develop naturally — play Nc6 to attack the knight on d4, then bring out your kingside pieces and castle. Black's statistics are excellent against this move, with White only scoring 47.5% from nearly 100,000 games.