Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
4,360 games: White 44.9% / Draw 3.1% / Black 52.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,1803,180 | ||
| 373373 | ||
| 208208 | ||
| 167167 | ||
| 133133 | ||
| 110110 | ||
| 8282 | ||
| 5656 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−1.44 Black is better
Best play: 5... d5 6. e5 Bg4 7. b4 Bb6 8. b5 Nce7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation (ECO C21, Open Games) is a gambit in the Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 (5 moves).
In 4,360 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.9%, Black 52.0% and 3.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…dxc3, in 73% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation
The most played answer, 5…dxc3, also scores best for Black: 54.0%, with Black winning 52.4% and White 44.3% of 3,180 games. Of the main answers, 5…d6 scores lowest: 49.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 5…d5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation (C21)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/center-game-halasz-mcdonnell-gambit-crocodile-variation