Parham Attack: Wayward Queen Attack (Danvers Opening)

Parham Attack (Wayward Queen Attack / Danvers Opening)

Definition

The Parham Attack is an off-beat chess opening that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 ?. By bringing the queen out on the second move White immediately attacks both the pawn on e5 and the sensitive f7 square. The line is named after the American master Bernard Parham, who championed early queen forays and a system he called “Matrix Chess.” In contemporary literature it is most often referred to as the Wayward Queen Attack (or, in older sources, the “Danvers Opening”).

Typical Move-Order

Starting position:

• 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5
• …after 2. Qh5 Black has several reputable replies:
  • 2…Nc6 (most popular)
  • 2…Nf6 (directly attacking the queen)
  • 2…d6 or 2…g6 as solid options

Strategic Ideas

White’s aims are straightforward:

• Threaten 3. Qxe5+, picking up the e-pawn with check.
• Create tactical pressure on f7 (e.g., 3. Bc4 in some lines, echoing the Scholar’s Mate motif).
• Force Black into unfamiliar territory and provoke inaccuracies in club-level play.

Black, on the other hand, seeks to gain time by chasing the prematurely developed queen and to complete development with moves such as …Nc6, …Nf6, …g6, and …Bg7 / …d5. If handled accurately, Black normally equalises or even obtains a pleasant initiative.

Historical Background

Bernard Parham (b. 1957) popularised the idea in the 1970s United States tournament circuit. Although the concept of Qh5 had existed since the 19^th century (it appears in beginner traps such as the Scholar’s Mate), Parham advocated it at master level and scored several notable wins, lending his name to the system.

Modern engines evaluate 2. Qh5 as objectively inferior (≈ -0.2 to -0.4 for White), yet it remains popular in blitz and bullet chess for its surprise value.

Notable Examples

1. Bernard Parham – David Gliksman, U.S. Open 1978
   Parham unleashed 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 !? and won a sharp tactical game, bringing early publicity to the line.
2. Magnus Carlsen – Hikaru Nakamura, Chess.com Blitz 2018
   Carlsen tried the Parham Attack in a bullet game, but Nakamura’s precise 2…Nf6 3.Qxe5+ Be7! comfortably equalised and the World Champion was soon on the defensive.
3. Illustrative miniature (scholastic level)
   
   
   A classic Scholar’s Mate pattern if Black is careless with 2…Nc6?? 3.Bc4 Nf6??. Although elementary, this trap accounts for many rapid wins in online play.

Typical Tactical Themes

• Scholar’s Mate motif – coordination of queen and bishop on the f7 square.
• Queen harassment – Black gains tempi with …Nf6, …g6, …Bg7 or …d5.
• e-file pin – after 2…Nf6 3.Qxe5+ Be7 Black may pin the queen along the e-file, regaining the pawn with advantage.
• Central counter-strike – lines featuring …d5 break open the centre while White’s queen is exposed.

Practical Usage

The Parham Attack is best treated as a surprise weapon in fast time controls. Its value lies more in provoking over-reaction than in claiming an opening advantage. At classical time controls strong players seldom employ it, preferring theoretically sound openings such as the Ruy Lopez or Italian Game.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Bernard Parham once played 1.e4 2.Qh5 as both White and Black by starting with 1…Qh4?! when facing 1.d4, demonstrating his belief in “Matrix Chess” where the queen’s activity overrides classical principles.
• The name “Danvers Opening” originates from a 19^th-century club in Danvers, Massachusetts, where local players reportedly experimented with 2.Qh5.
• Streamers such as GothamChess (IM Levy Rozman) and Eric Rosen regularly showcase Parham Attack traps, causing periodic spikes in its online popularity charts .

Evaluation Summary

While entertaining and occasionally venomous, the Parham Attack is considered dubious at master level. Black can equalise comfortably with accurate play (e.g., 2…Nf6!). Nevertheless, its surprise potential, tactical richness, and educational value for beginners ensure the opening remains a colourful part of chess culture.