Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
Amazon Attack
The queen out early, the bishop shut in
- Offbeat
2.Qd3 brings the queen out to the third rank, with the plan of regrouping it, for instance to b3. The idea is an unusual set-up, not a fight for the centre. But the queen on d3 blocks the f1 bishop and becomes a target itself, so the opening is thought to be weak and is played for surprise.
3…c5
Moves
(6 plies • 3 moves)- 1–3moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
Defining move
2.Qd3 — the queen to d3
The move that makes it odd
The queen comes out on move two and takes the diagonal away from the f1 bishop. It threatens nothing, and White loses time. Black answers naturally: develops a knight and strikes in the centre with …c5.
Tabiya
The d3 queen facing Black's play
Black has developed a knight and struck with …c5. The white queen on d3 gets in the way of its own pieces, and …d4 may drive the c3 knight away. White has to find a place for the queen. Black has easy play in the centre and takes no risk.
White’s plan
- Reroute the queen to b3 or keep it on d3 and develop the rest.
- Build an unusual set-up with fianchettoes and queenside pawn moves.
- Play for surprise.
Black’s plan
- Develop knights and bishops in a natural way.
- Strike in the centre with …c5.
- Not play passively: use the time White has lost.
Games in the Atlas
No games in the Atlas yet