The single most critical spot on the board is occupied at the start of the
game by the pawn in front of the King’s Bishop. In fact, the fastest way to put
an opponent in checkmate is by putting your Queen in that spot, after moving a
Bishop into place to protect her, which is referred to derogatorily as a
“fool’s mate”.
Most opening games last anywhere from four to eight exchanges, and it is
rarely a good idea to bring your Queen out earlier. The only other spot an
opponent may try to exploit with an early Queen is that of the King’s Knight’s
pawn. Used properly, an “early Queen’s attack” can be devastating! However, you
should bear in mind that any early use of the Queen exposes her to risk, and
those two squares really are the only places she might do any good.
However, should you be faced with an early Queen’s, if you try moving pieces
to positions of direct attack against a Queen, your pieces will be decimated.
But, if you block the route the Queen came in through, you get to take
out your opponent’s most powerful piece at your leisure. Think of this as “The
Containment Principle”.