1.e4 e5 2.Qe2 Next move?

Hi,

1. e4 e5 2.Qe2

What should be the way to respond to the above moves?

I tried the following and lost a number of pieces in the opening.

1.  e4      e5
2.     Qe2     d5
3.     exd5     c6
4.     Qxe5+     Ne7
5.     d6     Nd7

Any advices will help me.

Thanks

Just develop normally with Nf6 and Nc6.

Giving away your center pawns like that is not a good idea because the center pawns are the most valuable ones. 1.e4 e5 2. Qe2.What should you do? First thank him for blocking in his light square bishop. Not only that, 2. Qe2 threatens nothing, so what's there to be afraid of? Like the others said, just develop your pieces to good squares, get your knights out to f6 and c6, then bishops, castle. You should be glad he's letting your equalize immediately with such an innocuous move.

Qe2 is usually played when White wants to castle queenside. Played so early it carries disadvantages: (1) it prevents the light-squared bishop from deploying along the f1-a6 diagonal and delays castling kingside, (2) it leaves the queen and c2 square somewhat vulnerable, (3) on e2 the queen doesn't support the normal d2-d4 push so it will be difficult for White to obtain an advantage.

I would reply 1.e4 e5 2.Qe2 Nc6!. The point is, it's a natural developing move that can't be met by Bb5 anymore, tactically it threatens Nd4 (hitting c2 and e2) which may be useful at some point, and it prevents the normal d2-d4 push.

Note, your quick loss was more due to tactical errors than a lack of opening principles. You have to look at CHECKS and CAPTURES for you and your opponent on every move. 3...c6 ignored the CHECKING CAPTURE 4.Qxe5+, which refuted your play.

There's no direct refutation, it's just a bad move with no point. Black should develop his pieces and eventually play ...d5. also putting the rook on e8 will be extra good after ...d5 since that could attack the queen after the exchange

Qe2 may be a good move against a youngster who knows all openings but is otherwise quite weak. Basman has played with black 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Qe7

Once a player has decided he will play patiently and sensibly against this type of move the would be player of Qe2/e7 ideas has failed in provoking impatient play.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I could not think on these basic principles as this move was strange to me. Seems I was playing a bit backwardly.

Now I see how nice these pieces are placed.

Just to add something, now if I was white, I'll be playing as follows.

5. b4 Bb6

6. Na3 o-o

7. Nc4 (now black's dark bishop is blocked)

why would anyone play qe2??

I could not see that d5 is a good square to attack as c4 and Nc4 can protect it.

4. ..... Bc5 looks a bit incorrect to me. Bcz after

5. b4 Bb6

6. b5         Black is forced to move the knight either to a5 or to b8 cz Ne7 wud loose the e5 pawn

When in doubt develop a Knight. It may not be the best move but it will put you ahead in development.