Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. c3

Centre Pawn Opening (or Mcleod Attack)
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. c3

Centre Pawn Opening/MacLeod Attack/Lopez Opening edit

White's second move prepares to push a pawn to d4, establishing a pawn center. However the idea is too slow as Black can respond vigorously with 2...d5 to eliminate transpositional possibilities. After 1. e4 e5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5, there is no 4. Nc3 to chase the queen away and gain a tempo.

Theory table edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. c3

2 3 4
...
d5
exd5
Qxd5
d4
Nc6
=+
...
d5
exd5
Qxd5
Qf3
Be6
Bd3
Nf6
Qxd5
Bxd5
=+

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References edit

  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.