Queen out early

Sort:
Avatar of LuganaVerona
I've been playing a friend and up until now winning most of our games. We played again yesterday and after bringing her Queen out early, devastated my pieces creating a disadvantage I never recovered from. How best to deal with someone playing so aggressively?
Avatar of Wildekaart

Any development moves that also attack the queen should be made in an instant, unless it hangs another piece. You have to be always aware of the latter. As long as your development is solid and creates a harmonious structure you shouldn't have much trouble with Black's queen since they'll likely be down in development.

Avatar of LuganaVerona
Thanks for the advice 😁👍
Avatar of jonnin

One of the computer bots is obsessed with this tactic: nelson is its name.  Practice against it.  The primary targets of these attacks are your king's pawn with check, and the pawns that used to be defended by bishops but you moved the bishop (b2/g2) with a goal of a free rook, and opportunistic checks and snags of your pieces.   

I mean, lets look at a quick game against that computer:  on move 4, see how it tries to do the scholars' mate (its not mate here, but its no fun if you allow that queen to take and check)?  Got to defend against these threats. By moves 5 and 6, all it can do is try to keep its exposed queen safe from the nonstop attacks against it.  Move 7 is an attack on that pawn I said, g7 is vulnerable, but castling defends and develops at the same time.  Move 10 it is frustrated at lack of targets for the queen and bishop so it moves a pawn to get its other bishop out.  OOPS.  He misses the pin, makes a boneheaded move, and drops the exposed queen, game over.    The moves will vary a bit, but the theme will repeat over and over until your opponent stops doing it -- attack, defense improves you, they attack, defense improves you more.. until the queen has moved 5 or 6 times and is traded off or blundered away, leaving your opponent seriously behind in control of the center and piece development, headed for a rough midgame where you can attack and pressure while he has to defend an scramble to develop. 

 

Avatar of LuganaVerona
I see what you mean, thanks 😁
Avatar of blueemu

 

Avatar of LuganaVerona
Thanks guys, that all helps 👍