Chessy
Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation with dxc5 – A Comfortable Reversal for Black
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.dxc5 Nc6, White already faces a tricky decision. The engine evaluates this position at +0.66 — a small edge for White — but you as Black are actually the one scoring better from here. Across nearly 295,000 games, Black wins 49.6% of the time versus White's 46.8%, with only 3.6% draws. That winning percentage tells you this line is no trap; it's a real opening where you can play for a full point. The drill below will test your responses against the most common White moves and show you where your opponents most often go wrong.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation: dxc5 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill below and practise responding to each of White's most common moves — you'll quickly learn to punish 4.Nc3, 4.Bf4, and 4.g3 while
Create a free account →Why Black Already Scores Well
Despite the engine giving White a +0.66 edge, the practical results are on your side. Black wins 49.6% of games from this position — higher than both White's win rate and the typical score for the second player in most queen's pawn lines. This suggests that although the evaluation favours White slightly, the position is easier to play as Black in human terms. The pawn on c5 is already captured, but you have rapid development with ...Nc6 and ...e6 or ...Nf6 coming up, plus the open c-file for your rook. White's extra queenside pawn can become a target if they fall behind in development.
The Engine's Preferred Reply: e4
Stockfish's top choice here is 4.e4, aiming to seize the centre while you are still catching up. The idea is to follow up with ...Nf6 and then exd5 Qxd5 — White sacrifices the d5 pawn temporarily to keep the initiative. While this is the strongest move, it is also rarer in practice: the most-played moves (e3, Nc3, Bf4) are all considered inaccuracies by the engine, losing between 0.7 and 0.8 pawns compared to e4. If your opponent plays 4.e4, you can respond with 4...Nf6, challenging the centre immediately. After 5.exd5 Qxd5, Black has comfortable development and the bishop pair will be strong once you follow up with ...e6 or ...g6.
Where White Commonly Stumbles
Three of White's most popular moves are marked as inaccuracies in this position: - 4.Nc3 (60,926 games) — an inaccuracy losing ~0.8 pawns. White blocks their own c-pawn and lets you build a strong centre. - 4.Bf4 (34,286 games) — also loses ~0.8 pawns. White develops the bishop too early, and after ...e5 or ...Nf6 you gain time. - 4.g3 (13,245 games) — loses ~0.7 pawns. White's fianchetto is too slow, and you can immediately strike with ...e5 or ...Qa5+. All three of these moves are weaker than 4.e4. If your opponent plays any of them, you have already gained a measurable advantage. The most dangerous common move is actually 4.e3 (66,701 games), which, while not flagged as an inaccuracy, still only scores 46.7% for White.
How to Punish These Inaccuracies
When White plays 4.Nc3, your best plan is to develop quickly with ...Nf6 and threaten ...d4, kicking the knight. The bishop pair and central control will give you a comfortable edge. Against 4.Bf4, you can consider ...e5 immediately (chasing the bishop) or ...Nf6 preparing ...e6 or ...d4. Either way you get active piece play. For 4.g3, a direct approach like ...Qa5+ or ...e5 puts immediate pressure on White's slow setup. The common thread: White has wasted a tempo, and you can use that time to build a strong centre or start an attack. In every case, your development comes naturally while White struggles to justify their extra pawn.
Results across 294,350 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 66,701 | 46.7% |
| Nc3 | 60,926 | 45.8% |
| Bf4 | 34,286 | 47.7% |
| a3 | 28,759 | 50.2% |
| c3 | 26,837 | 49.3% |
| g3 | 13,245 | 45.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation good for Black?
Statistically yes — from this position Black wins 49.6% of games compared to White's 46.8%, and that's above the normal expected result for Black. The engine gives White a +0.66 edge, but the practical play strongly favours Black, especially if White does not find the best move 4.e4.
What is the best move for White after 3.dxc5 Nc6?
The engine recommends 4.e4, which keeps a small advantage. However, White's most popular choices — 4.e3, 4.Nc3, 4.Bf4, and 4.g3 — are all weaker. In fact, 4.Nc3, 4.Bf4, and 4.g3 are all marked as inaccuracies that give Black a clear edge.
Why does White score worse from this position despite the engine favouring them?
Because the engine's best move (4.e4) is rarely played in practice. Most White players choose moves like 4.e3 or 4.Nc3, which are easier for Black to handle. The engine evaluation assumes perfect play, but human players often mishandle White's extra pawn and fall behind in development.
How should Black respond to 4.Nc3?
4.Nc3 is an inaccuracy that loses about 0.8 pawns. Black can play 4...Nf6, threatening ...d4 with a tempo. After 5.e3 e6, Black has a solid centre and better development. If White tries 5.Bf4 instead, ...d4 again gives Black the advantage.