Chess opening · ECO B21
Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
In the McDonnell Attack, White meets the Sicilian with 2.f4. The pawns on e4 and f4 form a duo that controls e5 and prepares a kingside attack. White keeps the c- and d-pawns home and usually develops with Nf3 and Bc4 or Bb5. The setup is close to the Grand Prix Attack, but without an early Nc3.
- Rank by weighted share
- #71 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. f4
- 2. f4The f4 pawn controls e5 and g5 and can later push to f5 to open lines against Black's king. It also loosens the white king, since the f2 square no longer has a pawn.
The ...d5 counter
Black can hit back in the center with 2...d5. After 3.exd5 Qxd5, Nc3 attacks the queen with gain of time, and the queen often steps back to d8.
The idea is that the f4 pawn does nothing to cover d5. Black uses the moment before White's pieces come out.
Quiet setups with ...Nc6
2...Nc6 and 2...e6 keep the game calmer. Black develops, watches d4, and prepares ...d5 later. White often plays Nf3, a bishop to b5 or c4, and castles short before pushing f5. The c6 knight also watches e5, the square the f4 pawn was meant to control.
Top replies by rating
Nc6 leads up to 1999. From 1800 up, d5 climbs into the top three, and at 2000 and up it has the largest share.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nc6 33% | d6 27% | e6 20% |
| 1200–1399 | Nc6 34% | d6 27% | e6 20% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc6 36% | e6 22% | d6 20% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc6 40% | e6 19% | d6 19% |
| 1800–1999 | Nc6 36% | d5 19% | e6 18% |
| 2000 and up | d5 38% | Nc6 29% | e6 13% |
Questions
Is the McDonnell the same as the Grand Prix?
They share the e4 and f4 pawns. The Grand Prix usually comes with Nc3 first, while the McDonnell plays f4 on move two, which gives Black the extra option of ...d5 before White has a knight on c3.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.