King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense
The McConnell Defense is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6, where Black guards e5 with the queen instead of a knight. White wants to develop with gain of time against the exposed queen, while Black hopes to finish development with ...Nc6 and ...Nge7 before getting chased around.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6
- ECO
- C40
- Engine
- +1.37 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 13,578 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.5%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 3.Nc3 and then d4, as in the engine line, opens the center while Black's queen is still on f6.
- A knight jump to d5 hits the queen and the c7 pawn, often winning time or material.
- Bg5 is a handy tempo move whenever the queen sits on f6 with nothing to block the diagonal.
- Bc4 with Nc3 and d4 builds an ideal center while the f6 square is taken from Black's own knight.
Black
- Develop with ...Nc6 at once; the knight adds a defender to e5 so the queen can move later.
- The king's knight goes to e7 because the queen occupies f6; plan ...Nge7 and ...Ng6.
- Answer d4 with ...exd4 and ...Bb4 to pin the c3 knight and create some counterplay.
- Move the queen to g6 or d6 before it gets hit, as in the engine lines with ...Qg6 and ...Qd6.
Plans and pawn structure
White's plan is simple: Nc3, d4 and fast development, then use Nd5 or Bg5 to gain tempi against the queen. The center opens quickly, and Black's lag in development grows each time the queen moves. Black needs to survive the opening with ...Nc6, ...Bb4 and ...Nge7, castle short, and only then hope to use the queen actively along the g6-b1 diagonal or the sixth rank.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.37: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +1.37 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Bd2 exd4
- +1.25 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 c6 5.d4 Bg4
- +1.00 3.c3 Qg6 4.d4 d6 5.Nbd2 Nc6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
13,578 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.5%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- La Bourdonnais Gambit3.Bc4 · rare
How to play against it
As White, do not try to trap the queen at once. Just play Nc3, d4 and Bc4, and let the threats come from development. Keep g2 and the f3 knight protected so the queen on f6 has no targets. The 3.Bc4 path leads to the La Bourdonnais Gambit if you want sharper play.
Questions
What are the moves of the King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense?
The King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6. Its ECO code is C40.
Is the King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.37 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 13,578 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.5%. A surprise weapon at best; White players who simply develop and open the center get an easy, lasting edge.
What is the main idea of the King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense?
Black defends e5 with the queen, which works for now but blocks f6 and invites attacks. White develops fast with Nc3, d4 and Bc4, gaining time with Nd5 or Bg5 against the queen.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Nc3, with Bc4 and c3 close behind. 3.Nc3 defends e4, prepares d4, and gets ready for Nd5 to hit the queen and c7.
Related lines
- King's Pawn Game (1.e4 sidelines)
- Leonardis Variation
- Wayward Queen Attack
- King's Knight Opening
- Busch-Gass Gambit
- Napoleon Attack
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.