Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack is a chess opening with the ECO code B21, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bb5 Bg7 5. Bxc6 bxc6 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Nf6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 14 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
2. f4 – White plays the pawn to f4
2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
3. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
3... g6 – Black plays the pawn to g6
4. Bb5 – White plays the bishop to b5
4... Bg7 – Black plays the bishop to g7
5. Bxc6 – White takes on c6 with the bishop
5... bxc6 – Black captures on c6 with the b-pawn
6. O-O – White castles kingside
6... d6 – Black plays the pawn to d6
The line goes on for 2 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Sicilian Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c5, fighting for the d4 square from the side. The game becomes unbalanced and sharp, with chances for both sides.
After d4 and ...cxd4, Black trades a side pawn for White's centre pawn and gets an extra centre pawn.
Black uses the half-open c-file: a rook on c8 and pressure on c3 and c2.
Kings often castle on opposite sides, so both players race to attack; every tempo counts.
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