How to play against Wayward/Napoleon after c3
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Hi,
Everywhere you read putting your queen early in the center is bad, because it will get chased around and opponent gains tempo.
I can do that fairly well, but in these variants it feels like the only one with advantage is white.
Still no way to develop with tempo, huge center control and plenty of attacking ideas for white, while black is forced to react, sacrifising developement.
The lines are:
1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 g6 4. Qf3 Nf6 5. c3 *
and:
1. e4 e5 2. Qf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 *
You don’t have to play those lines.
In Fact, the line you recommended against Wayward Queen line isn’t considered the best.
The moves you wrote are very good and I personally do like Fianchetto lines so I would probably play that way.
But that isn’t the proper way to play.
Black best line sacs the E5 pawn.
The position below:
The line Gambits the e5 pawn, but many wouldn’t call it a Gambit because Black counter attack is way to strong.
Black is 1 move away from castling and White is 3 moves away + White Queen is beyond enemy lines.
It’s just not good for White.
However, I personally prefer the Fianchetto lines.
It’s more in my style of play.
Playing c3 in the Wayward Queen is a massive mistake. In your first line, 5… Bh6 puts a stranglehold on White’s central play, especially if combined with 6… Nh5 and trying to kick or trade off White’s strong LSB to win the bishop pair and take an even stronger center for yourself with plans and ideas of d5, e4, and retaking on d5 or even playing for c6, Nxc6, and 0-0-0 putting even MORE pressure on White’s already overloaded center.
In the Napoleon, play 2… Nf6 3. Bc4 c6! and either 4. Nc3 b5 5. Bb3 b4 6. Na5 d5 or 4… d5 if White play something other than 4. Nc3 for some reason.