Sicilian Defense McDonnell Attack
Sicilian Defense – McDonnell Attack (Alapin Variation: 1. e4 c5 2. c3)
Definition
The McDonnell Attack is an anti-Sicilian system that arises after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. c3. By playing the quiet pawn push c2–c3 instead of the more common 2. Nf3, White prepares an immediate central thrust d2–d4, hoping to establish a broad pawn centre and sidestep the labyrinth of mainline Sicilian theory. Modern opening manuals usually file the line under the name “Alapin Variation,” but its earliest known practitioner was the Irish master Alexander McDonnell, whose epic 1834 match against Louis-Charles La Bourdonnais gave the system its original title.
Typical Move Order & Branches
After 1. e4 c5 2. c3 the game often continues:
- 2…d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 – the most principled reply, striking back in the centre immediately.
- 2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 – Black provokes a pawn advance and tries to undermine the centre later.
- 2…e6 or 2…g6 – flexible set-ups aiming for a solid or hypermodern development.
In all cases White’s core idea is to push d2–d4 under favourable circumstances, recapturing with the c-pawn in order to build pawns on e4 & d4 without allowing Black to exchange too many central pieces.
Strategic Themes
- Ceded Space vs. Central Majority – Black concedes the centre early but gains rapid development and pressure against d4.
- Open c-file – If White recaptures on d4 with the pawn (cxd4), the half-open c-file can later be exploited by either side’s rooks.
- Minor-piece Placement – White usually develops the queen’s knight to e2 or d2 rather than the natural c3, keeping the pawn structure intact.
- Transpositional Value – The line can transpose into French-, Caro-Kann-, or Panov-type structures depending on Black’s reply.
Historical Context
• 1834 – McDonnell vs. La Bourdonnais: McDonnell employed 2. c3 several times, often achieving promising positions in an era when the Sicilian itself was a rare guest on the board.
• Late 19th Century: Russian theoretician Semyon Alapin analysed the variation in depth, and his name gradually replaced McDonnell’s in opening literature.
• Modern Era: The line became a reliable drawing weapon at elite level—used by Karpov, Kramnik, Carlsen, and Caruana—to avoid the razor-sharp Najdorf, Dragon, and Sveshnikov mainlines without playing for a quick draw.
Illustrative Game
Vladimir Kramnik – Veselin Topalov, Dortmund 2001
Result: 1-0 (White wins after a smooth positional squeeze)
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The move 2. c3 looks modest, but it is one of only two second-move options (the other being 2. Nc3) that Magnus Carlsen has used against the Sicilian in World-Championship play.
- Because it often leads to French-type pawn chains, some grandmasters jokingly call the McDonnell Attack “The French with an extra tempo.”
- A 2018 computer search showed that the line scores roughly +1 % better for White in games under 2400 FIDE than main-line Open Sicilians—a small but noticeable statistical edge.
- Alexander McDonnell never saw his name enshrined in modern ECO codes; by the time ECO was standardised, “Alapin Variation” had already taken hold.
Practical Tips
- If you play Black and dislike isolated-queen-pawn (IQP) positions, prefer 2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5.
- As White, be ready to transpose into a Panov structure after 2…d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4; study typical minority attacks on the queenside.
- Remember that the quiet appearance of 2. c3 hides tactical potential—don’t neglect development or the e-file may open unexpectedly.