What Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense puts on the board
Black has a one-pawn material edge; white is to move.
White has central pawns on d4 and e4; Black has central pawns on e5.
White can still castle either side; Black can still castle either side.
The c-file is half-open for White, giving that side a natural pressure lane.
What White is trying to build
Build pressure on the centre and recover or use the c-pawn investment through development.
Place rooks on the c- and d-files once the centre is clarified.
How Black challenges it
Challenge d4 with …c5 or …e5 when development permits.
Complete development without trying to hold c4 at any cost.
The tactical pattern to recognise
The isolated queen’s pawn can be both a weakness and a source of active play.
Minor-piece pressure on c6, d5 and e4 often decides the central break.
What to check before committing
Trying to win the gambit pawn while the king remains in the centre.
Trading into a passive structure without contesting an open file.
Choose the next book move
Preview a move to see the resulting position and the idea behind it. Select it to continue on the same board.
Reference links and alternate move orders
Related variations
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense, Alatortsev Variation
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense, Borisenko-Furman Variation
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense, Haberditz Variation
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Greco Variation
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Modern Defense
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Rubinstein Defense
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Main Line
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Normal Line
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Rubinstein Variation
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Russian Gambit