Greco Defence

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The Greco Defence, named after Gioacchino Greco, is the chess opening that begins with the moves

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 Qf6.

Of the several plausible ways that Black has to defend the e-pawn, 2...Qf6 is one of the weaker choices and it is only played by novices. The queen is with this move developed too early and deprives the Black king's knight of its most natural square. Even so, 2...Bd6? and 2...f6? (Damiano Defence) are worse defences. Better moves for Black include 2...Nc6 (usually leading to the Four Knights Game, Scotch Game, Giuoco Piano, or Ruy Lopez depending on White's reply), 2...d6 (Philidor Defence), and the counterattack 2...Nf6 (Petrov's Defense).

Many a weak player has been snared by

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Qf6

3. Bc4 Qg6? (3...Bc5 developing a piece is better)

4. O-O Qxe4?

5. Bxf7+! Kxf7??

6. Ng5+!

And Black's wandering queen wanders no more. A textbook illustration of the dangers of material greed when behind in development.