Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack

The McDonnell Attack is 2.f4, a Grand Prix-style pawn push that grabs space on the kingside. White wants Nf3, Bb5 or Bc4 and a kingside attack, while Black can strike in the center with ...e6 and ...d5 or a solid ...g6 fianchetto.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.f4
ECO
B21
Engine
−0.19 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
18,379 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Develop Nf3 and Bb5, pinning a black knight on c6 and planning to take it to double Black's pawns.
  • Against ...e6 and ...d5, play Nc3 and keep the center flexible with d3.
  • Castle short and use f5 or e5 pushes to open lines against Black's king.
  • c3 and d4 is an option when Black plays ...g6, aiming for a classical center.

Black

  • 2...e6 with ...d5 hits e4 right away and gains central space.
  • After Nc3, push ...d4 and then ...Nc6, kicking the knight back to e2.
  • A ...g6 and ...Bg7 setup aims the bishop at the b2 pawn and the long diagonal.
  • Against Bb5, ...Nd4 is a useful jump that trades off a key White knight.

Plans and pawn structure

White's f4 loosens the king a little but gives space for a kingside attack. White wants Nf3, Bb5 or Bc4, castling and later f5 or e5. Black's best plans are central: ...e6 and ...d5, or ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d5 to open the long diagonal. If Black's center grows with ...d4, White's knights lose good squares. In the ...Nc6 lines, Bb5 and Bxc6 give White a better pawn structure, so Black often uses ...Nd4 to avoid doubled pawns.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.19: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.19 2...e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 d4 5.Ne2
  2. −0.18 2...g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.c3 d5 5.Bb5+
  3. −0.13 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Be2 g6 5.Nf3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

18,379 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.1%.

under 120052.2%
1200–159950.5%
1600–199949.9%
2000 and up50.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Mafia Defense2...e5 · 324 games
  • McDonnell Attack, Tal Gambit2...d5 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play 2...e6 and ...d5 or a ...g6 setup and fight for the center. Avoid passive moves that let White play f5 and attack freely. Against Bb5, consider ...Nd4 to swap knights.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 c5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6; 1.e4 c5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.d3; 1.e4 c5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Bb5 Bg7.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack?

The Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack starts 1.e4 c5 2.f4. Its ECO code is B21.

Is the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.19 at depth 20, which is level. In 18,379 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.1%. Suits aggressive White players who like attacking setups, but Black gets equal play by hitting the center quickly.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack?

White pushes f4 early to grab space and prepare a kingside attack with Nf3, Bb5 and castling. Black counters with ...e6 and ...d5 or ...g6 and ...Bg7, aiming at the center.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e6, with g6 and Nc6 close behind. 2...e6 prepares ...d5 and takes advantage of the light squares White weakened with f4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.