Chessy
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5, White has built a big centre and it is your job to react with care as Black. This is a sharp, practical position where a small inaccuracy can leave you under pressure quickly. The drill below lets you test the key reply and learn how to meet White’s most common tries. Focus on active development, king safety, and the tactical details that decide whether you stay in the game or drift behind.
Play the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is fighting against
White has already claimed a lot of space in the centre, so your main task is to challenge that structure before it becomes too strong. This is not a quiet waiting game. You want your pieces out quickly, your king safe, and your moves to have a clear purpose. If you respond passively, White can keep the initiative and make life awkward.
The engine’s key move
Stockfish rates this +0.40, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The engine’s best move is Nf3, and the suggested continuation is Nf3 exd4 Bxc4 Bb4+. The practical lesson is simple: White is aiming to develop smoothly while keeping pressure in the centre, and you need to answer with active play rather than drifting.
What the database says
This exact position has been played 1,168,199 times in the Lichess database, so it is a well-trodden and very practical tabiya. White wins 52.1%, draws 4.3%, and Black wins 43.6%. Those numbers match the engine’s verdict: White has a modest edge, but the position is still very much playable if you know the right ideas.
White’s main choices
The most-played continuation is d5, with 750,466 games and White scoring 53.2%. Nf3 is next, with 265,243 games and White scoring 52.5%. Bxc4 appears in 99,874 games, dxe5 in 26,465, Qa4+ in 8,855, and Nc3 in 7,672. That spread tells you White has several natural ways to continue, so your preparation should be based on plans and ideas, not memorising one narrow line.
Moves that go wrong for White
The database marks d5 as a mistake and says it loses about 1.0 pawns; the better move was Nf3. Bxc4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; again, Nf3 was better. dxe5 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns, with Nf3 still the better move. If White chooses one of these less precise moves, you should be ready to seize the chance and keep the pressure on.
Results across 1,168,199 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d5 | 750,466 | 53.2% |
| Nf3 | 265,243 | 52.5% |
| Bxc4 | 99,874 | 47.6% |
| dxe5 | 26,465 | 42.6% |
| Qa4+ | 8,855 | 45.8% |
| Nc3 | 7,672 | 35.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense good for Black?
It is playable, but the statistics lean a little toward White. Stockfish gives +0.40, and White also scores better in the database for this exact position. So Black needs to be accurate and active rather than assuming automatic equality.
What should Black aim for here?
Black should challenge White’s centre, develop quickly, and keep the king safe. The engine’s best move is Nf3, with the suggested continuation Nf3 exd4 Bxc4 Bb4+. That shows the kind of active play Black wants against White’s central expansion.
What is White most likely to play?
The most-played continuation is d5, and Nf3 is also very common. Bxc4, dxe5, Qa4+, and Nc3 appear less often, but they are all real practical tries. The drill helps you meet the moves White is most likely to choose.
Which White moves are mistakes here?
The database flags d5 as a mistake, while Bxc4 and dxe5 are inaccuracies. In all three cases, the better move was Nf3. That gives you a useful warning sign: if White rushes, you may get a chance to take over the initiative.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense position. White wins 52.1%, Black wins 43.6%, with 4.3% draws — based on real rated games.