King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack
The MacLeod Attack is 1.e4 e5 2.c3, preparing d4 with the c-pawn instead of developing a piece. White wants a big pawn center after d4, while Black strikes first with ...d5, knowing that no white knight can come to c3 to chase the queen.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.c3
- ECO
- C20
- Engine
- −0.36 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 6,620 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Aim for d4 as soon as possible, so the c3 pawn can recapture and keep a pawn on d4.
- After ...d5 and exd5 Qxd5, play d4 and Nf3, as the top engine line shows, for a solid center.
- Against ...Nf6, the engine plays Nf3 and after ...Nxe4 uses d3 to push the knight back.
- Develop with Be2 and castle short before trying to open lines in the center.
Black
- ...d5 is the engine's top move, hitting e4 at a moment when White's knight cannot use c3.
- After exd5, recapture with ...Qxd5; the queen is safe because no knight can reach c3 to hit it.
- ...Nf6 attacks e4 at once, and the engine even takes it with ...Nxe4 after Nf3.
- ...Nc6 invites d4; after ...exd4 and cxd4, ...d5 hits the center straight away.
Plans and pawn structure
The c3 pawn supports d4, but it takes the natural square from White's queen knight. Black's ...d5 strike uses this, because the queen recaptures on d5 without being hit by Nc3. White then plays d4 and Nf3 for a solid center. Black develops quickly with ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and ...Bg4, and the structure becomes open, with White's d4 pawn as the main target. If White gets an isolated d4 pawn, Black blockades it and wins it later.
Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.36: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.36 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3
- −0.21 2...Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxe4 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nxe5
- −0.12 2...Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.e5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
6,620 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- MacLeod Attack, Lasa Gambit2...f5 · rare
- MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit2...d5 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, play ...d5 at once and recapture with the queen if White takes. Develop quickly with ...Nc6, ...Nf6 and ...Bg4, and target the d4 pawn. As White, push d4 and develop with Nf3 and Be2, and avoid moving the queen early while the center is open.
Questions
What are the moves of the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack?
The King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.c3. Its ECO code is C20.
Is the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.36 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 6,620 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.7%. An offbeat choice for White players who like pawn centers, and Black gets comfortable play by striking with ...d5 at once.
What is the main idea of the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack?
White plays c3 to prepare d4 and a big center. Black strikes first with ...d5, using the fact that no white knight can reach c3 to attack the queen.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is d5, with Nf6 and Nc6 close behind. ...d5 hits e4 when no white knight can reach c3 to chase the queen after the recapture.
Related lines
- King's Pawn Game (1.e4 sidelines)
- Leonardis Variation
- Wayward Queen Attack
- King's Knight Opening
- Busch-Gass Gambit
- McConnell Defense
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.