ECO C20 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack

1. e4 e5 2. c3

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2… d5−0.35

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.352… d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Be3 Bf5 7. Be2
  2. −0.172… Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nxe4 5. O-O Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5
  3. −0.052… Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. e5 f6 6. Bb5 fxe5 7. Qh5+

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Be3 Bf5 7. Be2. Black is slightly better (−0.35). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (−0.17) and 2… Nc6 (−0.05).
Is the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.35: black is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack?
C20. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).