Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack

The McDonnell Attack (1.e4 c5 2.f4) is the immediate form of the Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian Defense. White plays f4 at once, without first developing the queen's knight with 2.Nc3.

Origins

The name comes from the 14th game of the 1834 match in London between Alexander McDonnell and Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais, in which McDonnell played 2.f4; La Bourdonnais answered 2...e6 and won.

The idea

In the modern Grand Prix main line, 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7, White plays Bb5, threatening to double Black's pawns with Bxc6, or Bc4, aiming for a kingside attack. The drawback of playing f4 at once is that Black can strike in the centre immediately with ...d5.

Main lines

• 2...d5 3.exd5 Nf6!, the Tal Gambit. According to Jeremy Silman and others this is Black's best reply, and it has caused the immediate 2.f4 to decline in popularity.
• 2...d5 3.Nc3, declining the gambit, the so-called Toilet Variation, named after its reputed place of invention.
• 2...e6, as La Bourdonnais played, a less common option.
• For these reasons players nowadays usually reach the Grand Prix by playing 2.Nc3 first and then 3.f4, the Grand Prix Attack of the Closed Sicilian.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• A direct plan of kingside expansion.
• Avoids the Open Sicilian main lines.

Weaknesses

• 2...d5 hits the centre at once; the Tal Gambit is considered Black's best answer.
• Players now usually prefer the move order 2.Nc3 and 3.f4.

Who should play it

The McDonnell Attack suits aggressive White players who want a kingside attack against the Sicilian and are ready to meet 2...d5; others reach the same plans more safely through 2.Nc3 and 3.f4.

The numbers

On Lichess Black does slightly better: White and Black are level under 1400 (48.3% against 48.6%) and at 1400–1799 (48.5% against 48.2%), while Black leads 49.1% against 46.7% at 1800–2199 and 48.4% against 45.6% from 2200 up. There are only about 2,700 master games, too few to draw firm conclusions.