Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

King's Gambit Accepted

Cunningham Defense, McCormick Defense

C35tactical

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.f4exf4
  3. 3.Nf3Be7
  4. 4.Bc4Nf6
1,230 games50%47%

The McCormick Defense, 4...Nf6 in the Cunningham line of the King's Gambit Accepted, develops and hits e4, leading to a roughly balanced game.

Train it in Theoria

About the McCormick Defense

The McCormick Defense, 4...Nf6, is the main modern treatment of the Cunningham. Black develops and attacks e4 instead of checking on h4. White's three common replies are almost equally popular. 5. e5 drives the knight away, and then 5...Ng4 is the Modern Cunningham and 5...Ne4 the trappy Euwe Variation. 5. d3 protects the pawn, and 5. Nc3 defends it while developing. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and results are close to even.

Popular continuations