Caissa Codex
D20

Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense, Somov Gambit

Chess diagram: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense, Somov Gambit after 4. Bxc4

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Statistics from Lichess

57,459 games: White 46.1% / Draw 4.5% / Black 49.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
29,32629K
24,25224K
1,8431,843
1,0641,064
310310
189189
106106
104104

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.91 Black is better

Best play: 4... Qxd4 5. Qxd4 exd4 6. Nf3 c5 7. b4 Be6 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense, Somov Gambit (ECO D20, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a gambit in the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Bxc4 (4 moves).

In 57,459 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.1%, Black 49.4% and 4.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…exd4, in 51% of those games.

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How to play against the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense, Somov Gambit

4…Qxd4 scores best for Black: 57.0%, with Black winning 54.4% and White 40.4% of 24K games. The most played answer, 4…exd4, scores lowest: 47.7% in 29K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 4…Qxd4.

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. “Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense, Somov Gambit (D20)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-accepted-central-variation-mcdonnell-defense-somov-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-accepted-central-variation-mcdonnell-defense-somov-gambit