The Napoleon Opening is an irregular chess opening starting with
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Qf3
It is a weak opening because it develops the queen too early and subjects it to attack, and deprives the knight of its best square.
As with the similar Parham Attack (2.Qh5), White hopes for the scholar's mate: 2.Qf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5?? 4.Qxf7#. In both cases, Black can easily avoid the trap.
The Napoleon Opening is named after the French general and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who was said to be a fairly strong amateur chess player. Napoleon played this opening in a game he lost to the supposed chess-playing automaton, called The Turk. The name may also be a slighting reference to Napoleon's Empress, Josephine and her scandalous infidelities, hence Napoleon's inability to keep his Queen at home.
However, the Parham Attack is more forcing and stronger—first requiring Black to defend his e-pawn (usually with 2...Nc6), then after 3.Bc4 forcing Black to play a sub-optimal move (3...g6 virtually committing Black to a fianchetto rather than a more aggressive placement of the bishop; 3...Qe7 blocking the bishop; or 3...Qf6 taking away the knight's best square). 2.Qf3 places no such impediments on Black's development.
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