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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. f4

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. e4 | 1...c5
(Redirected from Chess/Grand Prix Attack)
McDonnell attack
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4PP2/8/PPPP2PP/RNBQKBNR b

Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. f4
ECO code: B21
Parent: Sicilian defence
Responses: 2...d5 · Tal gambit

2. f4 · McDonnell attack

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With 2. f4 White begins an aggressive attack against Black's kingside. This is the McDonnell attack, aka a(n accelerated) Grand Prix.

2...d5, the Tal gambit, lets Black thwart the attack before it gets started. If White declines with 3. e5, Black can play Bf5 and e6, achieving a superior French defence structure without the lousy French bishop. If White accepts, 3. exd5, Black can recover the pawn and get a development lead: 3...Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Qxd5.

For this reason the attack is often played in the move order 2. Nc3 followed by 3. f4, the (conventional) Grand Prix, where if e.g. 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e5 can be met with Nxe5.

Quieter second moves for Black, continuing however they would against an Open or Closed Sicilian--2...Nc3, 2...e6, so on--are also very playable, but don't capitalise on the position as much as the Tal Gambit.

History

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2. f4 was played many times by Alexander McDonnell as White against La Bourdonnais in their 1834 match series. La Bourdonnais was considered the strongest player of his generation, and their confrontation a precursor to the modern world chess championship. His success with the Sicilian defence in these matches was later credited with reviving the interest in the opening.

Theory table

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

1.e4 c5 2.f4

2 3 4 5
f4
d5		 Nc3
d4		 Nce2
Nc6		 =
...
Nc6		 Nc3
g6		 Nf3
Bg7		 Bb5
Nd4		 =
...
d6		 Nc3
Nc6		 Nf3
g6		 Bc4
Bg7		 =
...
e6		 Nf3
d5		 Bb5+
Nc6		 =
...
g6		 Nf3
Bg7		 Nc3
Nc6		 =
...
Nf6		 Nc3
d5		 e5
d4		 =

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References

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Wikipedia has related information at Sicilian Defence

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v · t · e
Chess openings quick reference
1. e4
1...e5 · Open
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:

With other 2nd moves:
2. Other

1...c5 · Sicilian
2... Nf3 · Open Sicilian
With 2...Nc6:

With 2...d6:

With 2...e6:

With other 2nd moves:
Anti-Sicilians
1... other
Caro-Kann
French
Other


1. d4
1...d5 · Closed
2. c4
2. Nc3
2. other
1...Nf6 · Indian
2. c4
With 2...e6:

With 2...g6:

With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. Nf3
2. other
1... other
Flank
Unorthodox


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