Chessy
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense — Black Plays Bxc4
Most club players who try the Queen's Gambit Accepted are happy just to hold the extra pawn. But in the sharp Central Variation that leads to the McDonnell Defense, you can do much more. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Bxc4 Qxd4, you've traded your d-pawn for White's e-pawn and planted your queen right in the middle of the board. The engine gives -0.59 — a small edge for Black. That means you are already slightly better. The challenge now is not to let it slip. In the drill below, you'll face White's best reply and learn how to keep your advantage. Let's see how the stats back this up.
Play the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense: Bxc4 against the engine
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Create a free account →Why Black's Queen Grab Works
This line is not a beginner's bluff — it is a principled counter-attack. By playing 3...e5 you challenge White's centre immediately, and after 4.Bxc4 Qxd4 your queen eyes both f2 and the centre while White's king is still stuck on e1. Over 32,000 games in the Lichess database, Black scores an impressive 53.5% against White's 41.1% (with only 5.4% draws). That winning percentage is rare for a sideline this early in the opening. The engine confirms the trend: -0.59 is a real, if small, advantage for Black. You have not just equalised — you have seized the initiative. The key is to build on it without letting White's pieces catch up.
The Engine's Answer: Trade Your Queen
Stockfish's top move is Qxd4, continuing with exd4 Nf3 c5. That means White accepts the queen trade and tries to use your isolated d-pawn as a target. After 5.Qxd4 exd4 the queens are off, but White's knight goes to f3 and your pawn on d4 becomes a strength as well as a weakness — it cramps White's pieces. Your ...c5 push then challenges White's centre and frees your light-squared bishop. This is the engine's best path and it keeps your advantage. In practice this continuation has been played over 21,900 times, with White scoring only 41.3% — a nice result for your side.
Punish White's Two Worst Mistakes
Two White moves in this position drop significant material, and you need to know how to punish them. Bxf7+ is played nearly 1,000 times in the database but it is a clear mistake, losing about 2.5 pawns' worth of advantage. After 5.Bxf7+? Kxf7 you are a piece up for nothing. Bd3 appears 804 times and loses about 1.6 pawns — it drops the bishop to ...Qxg1 or just leaves it misplaced while your queen dominates. If your opponent plays either of these, stay calm and take the material. The engine says White should have played Qxd4 instead.
What to Watch Against Qa4+ and Qb3
The second and third most-played responses are Qa4+ and Qb3. Against 5.Qa4+ (over 3,200 games, White scores just 41.8%), your best reply is natural: block with ...Nc6 or ...Bd7, developing with tempo. White's queen is misplaced on a4 and you can follow up with ...Bb4 or ...Nf6, keeping your extra pawn structure. Against 5.Qb3 (over 2,000 games, but White scores a troubling 55.3%), be more cautious — Qb3 threatens your queen and the f7 pawn simultaneously. The engine prefers to move your queen to a safe square like ...Qe5+ or ...Qd6, preserving your material edge. Of all the common replies, Qb3 gives White their best chances, so treat it with respect.
Results across 32,187 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qxd4 | 21,910 | 41.3% |
| Qa4+ | 3,228 | 41.8% |
| Qb3 | 2,001 | 55.3% |
| Bxf7+ | 957 | 29.4% |
| Nd2 | 815 | 44.7% |
| Bd3 | 804 | 38.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted Central Variation safe for Black?
Yes, in this McDonnell Defense line (4...Bxc4 followed by ...Qxd4) Black scores 53.5% across over 32,000 games. The engine gives Black a small but clear edge at -0.59. It is a sharp and principled line, but statistically it favours Black.
What is the best move for White after 4...Qxd4?
The engine recommends 5.Qxd4 exd4, trading queens and heading into a pawn-down endgame where White hopes to target your d4-pawn. This line has been played over 21,900 times and gives White only 41.3% wins, which is good for Black.
Is Bxf7+ a good move for White in this position?
No — Bxf7+ is a mistake that loses roughly 2.5 pawns of advantage. After Kxf7 you are simply a piece up. It has been played nearly 1,000 times but White scores only 29.4% after it, so punish it confidently.
What should I do if White plays Qb3?
Qb3 is White's most dangerous alternative — White scores 55.3% after it, so you need a good response. The engine suggests moving your queen to a safer square like Qe5+ or Qd6, keeping your material advantage while avoiding White's threats against f7 and your queen.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense: Bxc4?
Over 32K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense: Bxc4 position. White wins 41.1%, Black wins 53.5%, with 5.4% draws — based on real rated games.