McDonnell Defence: 5...Bc5 and the Normal Position
McDonnell Defence: 5...Bc5 and the Normal Position is variation 3 of 6 in the Evans Gambit course, a intermediate opening course for White (ECO C51). It runs 20 moves and begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 …. Black drops the bishop back to c5. White opens the centre, castles and takes back on d4. The result is the Normal Position. Black is a pawn up, but White has a big centre and quick play. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre.
1... e5 – Black claims an equal share.
2. Nf3 – White develops and attacks e5.
2... Nc6 – Black defends e5.
3. Bc4 – The bishop aims at f7.
3... Bc5 – The Giuoco Piano.
4. b4 – The Evans Gambit. White offers a pawn.
4... Bxb4 – Black takes the pawn.
5. c3 – White hits the bishop and prepares d4.
5... Bc5 – The McDonnell Defence. The bishop goes back to its best diagonal.
6. d4 – White strikes in the centre at once.
6... exd4 – Black takes the pawn.
7. O-O – White castles first and keeps the c-pawn ready to take back.
7... d6 – The best answer. Black supports d4 and frees the c8 bishop.
8. cxd4 – White takes back. Two pawns now stand side by side in the centre.
8... Bb6 – The bishop steps back to safety. This is the Normal Position.
The lesson goes on for 4 more moves, each with its explanation.
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