Wayward Queen Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Qh5)

The Wayward Queen Attack is an offbeat opening in the King’s Pawn Opening, sometimes referred to as the Parham Attack, the Danvers Opening, or the Child’s Attack. In chess notation the starting position is simply 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5. Its earliest recorded instance dates back to 1875.

The opening’s peculiarity lies in white’s hasty deployment of the queen on the second move, deviating from the established opening principles. As a result, it is seldom encountered among experienced players due to its questionable nature. Despite its rarity, the Wayward Queen Attack managed to surprise spectators when Magnus Carlsen chose to employ it in a World Rapid Championship game in 2018. This audacious move proved unsuccessful for Carlsen, resulting in his defeat. Another notable player occasionally seen using this opening is Hikaru Nakamura.

TL;DR — How to beat the Wayward Queen Attack

• Don’t panic. After 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5, just defend the e5 pawn with 2…Nc6 (or 2…d6). White will try 3.Bc4 aiming at f7, but 3…g6 hits the queen and forces it back.
• The one move to never play while the queen sits on h5 is …Nf6 too early, that walks into 4.Qxf7# (Scholar’s Mate).
• Survive those two moves and black is simply better: White has spent the whole opening shuffling the queen around while you develop.
• Below is the full theory, video tutorial, the traps for both sides, and the sharp lines if you want to punish 2.Qh5 instead of just neutralising it.

Win Rates and How Often the Wayward Queen Attack Is Played

Black scores better than white overall, which is unusual for a line where white moves first. The catch is that these averages hide a huge swing by rating. At the beginner level the Wayward Queen Attack is everywhere and scores well, because the Scholar’s Mate trap actually lands, many players simply don’t know the refutation. As soon as you climb past the casual-club level, it almost disappears from practice, because once 3…g6 is common knowledge white is just worse.

Video Tutorial: How to Play the Wayward Queen Attack

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Video covered the basics, now continue reading to master the deeper lines and hidden Wayward Queen Attack’s resources.

Key Ideas of Wayward Queen Attack

The central idea behind the Wayward Queen Attack is to launch a swift attack, which can often confound inexperienced players and potentially lead to tactical mistakes. In many cases, a light-squared bishop is developed to c4, and with the support of the queen, they exert pressure together on the most vulnerable spot in black’s camp, the f7 pawn.

White’s one-move threats are primarily effective in the short term, and after successfully repelling the attack, black can achieve a comfortable position without much difficulty. However, the Danvers opening has the advantage of taking opponents potentially out of their book, and leading to a middlegame where white can play so called ‘simple chess’. This element is arguably the biggest benefit of this opening.

How to Defend Against the Wayward Queen Attack

If your opponent has just played 2.Qh5 over the board and you need the short version, here it is. The whole defence rests on three rules:

1. Defend e5 first. The queen on h5 attacks the e5 pawn with check on the king’s safety later in mind, so your move two must hold e5. Both 2…Nc6 and 2…d6 do the job; 2…Nc6 is the most natural because it develops a piece and prepares …Nd4 ideas.

2. Meet 3.Bc4 with 3…g6. Once white adds the bishop to the attack on f7, 3…g6 blocks the mate and kicks the queen at the same time. After 4.Qf3 Nf6, the threat is gone for good and white’s queen has nowhere useful to be.

3. Never play …Nf6 while the queen is on h5. This is the only way to lose quickly. 2…Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6?? runs into 4.Qxf7#. Wait until you have played …g6 and chased the queen away, then …Nf6 is excellent.

Follow those three rules and you are not just safe — you are better. White has moved the queen two or three times and developed almost nothing, while you have a knight out, a fianchettoed bishop coming to g7, and an easy plan of …d5 to take the centre. If you want to actively punish the line rather than equalise quietly, head to the Common Traps and the Kiddie Countergambit sections below.

Wayward Queen Attack’s Theory

The e5 pawn is under attack after 2.Qh5 and both 2…Nc6 and 2…d6 are equally good ways to defend the e5 pawn. In both cases, white continues with 3.Bc4, threatening checkmate on f7. Once black defends the initial offense, black is usually slightly better and can develop naturally. In this regard, 2…Qe7 is an inferior choice, mainly because it disrupts the harmonious deployment of the pieces, as the queen on e7 blocks out the dark-squared bishop. On the other hand, 2…Qe7 defends both f7 and e5 at once, so 3.Bc4 does not make much sense anymore. Instead, white usually prefers 3.Nc3.

2…Nc6

Arguably the best way to deal with the attack on the e5 pawn is 2…Nc6, because it is not only a useful developing move, but it also creates possible threats of …Nd4 for later. 3.Bc4 and now black of course, should not make the blunder of 3…Nf6??, allowing the Scholar’s Mate motif for white, as 4.Qxf7# would be a checkmate.

3…g6 is the best move, forcing white’s queen to retreat. 4.Qf3, white keeps on attacking on f7, but the threat can be easily carried away with 4…Nf6. If white insists on attacking the f7 pawn with 5.Qb3?? this would get white in trouble for the reasons stated in the Traps Section of this article. Thus, white should now switch gears and continue developing.

5.Ne2

Since f3 square is occupied by the queen, the only sensible square left for the knight is e2: 5.Ne2. Since black has played …g6 already, fianchettoing on the kingside would be the only way to stay consistent, 5…Bg7. The game might carry on with these moves: 6.d3 d6, threatening …Bg4, 7.h3 Nb4, attacking c2, 8.Bb3 Be6, challenging the defender of c2, 9.Na3 and after 9….d5!, striking at the center, black would be slightly better due to white’s passive position and discoordination among their pieces.

5.c3

5.c3 is a relatively inferior move compared to 5.Ne2. White’s queen is not placed on d1, where it would be supporting a possible d4 break, so the sole purpose of this move is to prevent black’s …Nd4 threat. If black continues with natural moves, white may struggle to get an active game. 5…Bg7 6.d3 and now 6…Na5 would cause white headache. For example, if now 7.Bb3, black would simply capture the bishop, 7…Nxb3 8.axb3, which allows black to strike at the center with 8…d5.

If white tries to avoid the trade of bishop for a knight with 7.Bb5, black can achieve the central break again with 7….c6 8.Ba4 d5! 9.exd5 b5 10.Bc2 cxd5 with a significant advantage for black thanks to its spatial advantage and strong center.

Therefore, since white does not have any good response against black’s …Na5 and …d5 idea, 5.c3 would not be recommended for white.

2…d6

2…d6 may seem like it is shutting down black’s dark-squared bishop, but since it is likely to develop via …g6-…Bg7, this is not an issue. Once again, after 3.Bc4 g6 4.Qf3 Nf6, white fails to pose any serious question to black in the opening. The queen on f3 is misplaced, and the following sample line highlights this issue: 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Nge2 0-0 7.0-0 c6, building up …d6-..d5 break, 8.h3 (otherwise, after 8.a4 d5 9.exd5 Bg4! 10.Qg3 Bxe2 11.Nxe2 cxd5 12.Bb3 Nc6 and black stands much better due to the strong center) 8…b5 9.Bb3 a5, threatening …a4, 10.a3 and black just keeps squeezing white’s forces with 10…Nbd7 11.d3 Nc5.

Therefore, it might just be better for white to retreat to d1 after 3…g6, for example: 4.Qd1 Nf6 5.d3 c6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 with equal chances for both sides.

2…Qe7

2…Qe7 is a slight inaccuracy for black as the queen is not ideally placed on e7 and stands in the way of the king’s bishop. However, on a positive note, it defends f7 proactively, so 3.Bc4 does not come with a tempo anymore. Nevertheless, it can still be played with the idea of retreating the queen to e2 if she is chased away. For example: 3…Nf6 4.Qe2 d6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.d4 exd4 8.Nxd4 with an equal game.

An alternative try would be 3.Nc3, with the idea of Nd5, so black should ideally stop it with 3…Nf6 4.Qd1 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4, centralizing the queen, 6…Nc6 7.Qa4, and the queen has traversed to the other side of the board. The position remains roughly balanced and playable for both sides.

2…Nf6 – The Kiddie Countergambit

For players who want to fight fire with fire, there is 2…Nf6, known as the Kiddie Countergambit. Instead of defending the e5 pawn, black ignores it and develops with a gain of tempo. After 3.Qxe5+ black simply blocks the check and keeps developing with 3…Be7, intending …Nc6, …0-0 and …d5 with a clear lead in development for the sacrificed pawn. A sample continuation is 4.Qf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 d5, and black already has open lines and faster pieces while white is a tempo behind and still has the queen wandering.

To be clear, this is not objectively the best try: 2…Nc6 keeps the pawn and an edge with no risk. The Kiddie Countergambit is a practical surprise weapon: against an opponent who greedily grabbed the pawn and expected an easy game, the initiative is often worth far more than the material. If you prefer a clean, risk-free edge, stick with 2…Nc6.

Common Traps

Trap №1 – 2…g6

1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 g6??, is a panic move, prematurely attempting to defend the f7 square, and it not only allows white to get a free pawn with 3.Qxe5, but also win a full rook for free after 3…Qe7 4.Qxh8. Black may try to resist for a while 4…Nf6, thinking that white’s queen is taken hostage in the corner now, but just in a few moves, white will be able to save the queen and capitalize on their material advantage. A sample line may go like this: 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Nc3, with the idea of Nd5, 7…c6 8.Be2 b5 9.Bg4, utilizing the pin on the knight on f6. Next, white will capture on d7 and then on f6 to win even more material.

Trap №2 – 5.Qb3

1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.Qf3 Nf6 5.Qb3?, white attempts to build up a queen-bishop battery to attack black’s f7 pawn, but this strategy backfires due to black’s resourceful response 5…Nd4!, black sacrifices the f7 pawn, but the pawn is poisonous and the capture of it leads to a loss of material for white, 6.Bxf7 (6.Qd3, with the idea to defend e4 and c2 at the same time does not help either, because 6…d5! 7.exd5 Bf5 and there is no way for white to defend the c2 pawn.) 6…Ke7 7.Qc4 b5 and the queen is now overloaded with the defense of c2 and f7 simultaneously. White’s queen has to retreat now and black wins a piece with 7…Kxf7.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In the mainline of the Wayward Queen Attack, black may gain a slight edge, but this advantage is not substantial enough to secure a win, leaving a long and dynamic middlegame with numerous possibilities. The opening itself is not inherently bad, but White doesn’t obtain any advantage from it, making it less favorable. Nevertheless, it does lead to unique middlegame positions, diverging from heavily explored mainline theory, which could be appealing to players seeking to venture into uncharted territory.

FAQs

Is the Wayward Queen Attack a good opening for beginners?

It’s fun and easy to learn, especially if you’re new and want to catch your opponent off guard. But it breaks some basic opening rules and can backfire quickly if your opponent knows how to defend.

How do you counter the Wayward Queen Attack?

Play solidly with 2…Nc6 or 2…d6, then follow up with 3…g6 to push the queen back. As long as you don’t fall for cheap mates, you’ll often get a better position just by developing calmly.

Can the Wayward Queen Attack work in blitz games?

Yes, it can work well in blitz, especially against players who panic or don’t know theory. It’s not the most sound opening, but it’s perfect for quick tricks and fast decisions when every second counts.

How do you punish the Wayward Queen Attack?

Take care of the immediate threats first, then win time by attacking the queen with developing moves. After 2…Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.Qf3 Nf6, white’s queen is misplaced and you can grab the centre with …d5 while finishing development. The “punishment” is positional, white wastes moves, you don’t, and the advantage piles up.

What is the best defense against the Wayward Queen Attack?

2…Nc6 is the cleanest. It defends e5, develops a knight, and keeps …Nd4 ideas in reserve. Follow with 3…g6 against 3.Bc4 and you are out of all danger with a comfortable game. 2…d6 is also perfectly fine if you prefer it.

Is the Wayward Queen Attack good or bad?

It’s not a sound opening, but it’s not pointless either. Above the beginner level it’s considered bad because black equalises (and often gets the better game) with simple moves. Below that level it wins a lot of quick games on the Scholar’s Mate trap alone, which is why even Carlsen and Nakamura have wheeled it out for fun.

What is the Danvers Opening / Parham Attack?

They’re just other names for the same opening, 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5. You’ll also see it called the Child’s Attack. Different names, same early queen sortie to h5.

What is the Kiddie Countergambit?

It’s the aggressive reply 2…Nf6, where black ignores the e5 pawn and races to develop. After 3.Qxe5+ Be7 black gets quick, active piece play for the pawn. It’s a surprise weapon rather than the safest choice, 2…Nc6 keeps both the pawn and the edge.

Written by

Deniz Tasdelen, FIDE-rated player

FIDE-rated player (ID 6305946) with 20+ years of competitive experience. Top-20 finish at the European Youth Championship, three-time 3rd at the Turkish Youth Championship, and competed at the World Youth and World Junior Championships. Defeated both Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana at the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship — both games live-streamed by chess.com.

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