Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. d4/2...exd4/3. Qxd4/3...Nc6

Center Game Accepted rd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd ql pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl kl bl nl rl C22 Center Game Center Game Accepted White's responses White's queen is forced to retreat. By far, the most popular move is 4. Qe3 – Paulsen's Attack – lining up the queen with Black's king. Most of White's other possible queen retreats allow Black a quick d5 to at least equalize - though most disastrous would be 4. Qc3, allowing 4...Bb4 to win the queen with a pin. The move 4. Qd1 allows d5 a few moves later in an even worse scenario than usual for White. Black then usually responds with 4...Nf6, deciding to focus on developing the other knight. On occasion, White chooses 4. Qa4 (mimicking the Scandinavian Main Line) or 4. Qc4 (the Hall Variation). Theory table 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4   4 5 6 Evaluation Paulsen's Attack Qe3 Nf6 Bd2 Be7 Nc3 O-O = Qa4   Recalls a reversed Scandinavian Defense line (1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5). Hall variation Qc4   References Center Game