The Greco Defence (or McConnell Defence), named after

Gioachino Greco Gioachino Greco (c. 1600 – c. 1634) (ελληνικά/greek: Τζοακίνο Γκρέκο), surnamed Cusentino and more frequently ''il Calabrese'', was an Italian chess player and writer. He recorded some of the earliest chess games know ...

(c. 1600 – c. 1634), is a

chess opening A chess opening or simply an opening is the initial stage of a chess game. It usually consists of established theory; the other phases are the middlegame and the endgame. Many opening sequences have standard names such as the " Sicilian Defens ...

that begins with the moves: :1. e4 e5 :2. Nf3 Qf6 The opening is categorised by ''

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings The ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' () is a reference work describing the state of Chess theory#Opening theory, opening theory in chess, originally published in five volumes from 1974 to 1979 by the Serbian company Šahovski Informator (Che ...

'' as code C40.

Discussion

Of the several plausible ways Black has to defend his e-

pawn Pawn most often refers to: * Pawn (chess), the weakest and most numerous piece in the game * Pawnbroker or pawnshop, a business that provides loans by taking personal property as collateral Pawn may also refer to: Places * Pawn, Oregon, an h ...

, 2...Qf6 is considered one of the weaker choices, since the

queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

is prematurely and can become a target for attack. Also, the black knight on g8 is deprived of its most natural square. There is, however, no obvious refutation of this opening; White's advantage consists mainly of smoother development. Although it is a popular opening choice by novice players, it has also been used by players who, according to

International Master FIDE titles are awarded by the international chess governing body FIDE (''Fédération Internationale des Échecs'') for outstanding performance. The highest such title is Grandmaster (chess), Grandmaster (GM). Titles generally require a combinatio ...

Gary Lane, "should know better".

Examples

Greco line

Greco himself illustrated the following amusing line against this defence in 1620: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. 0-0 Qxe4 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 :5...Kxf7 6.Ng5+ wins the black queen. 6. Re1 Qf4 7. Rxe5+ Kxf7 :7...Kd8 8.Re8 8. d4 Qf6 9. Ng5+ Kg6 10. Qd3+ Kh6 11. Nf7#

McConnell game

Morphy vs. McConnell, New Orleans 1849: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Qg6 6. Bd3 :6.Qxd4 gives White a big lead in development. 6... Qxg2 7. Rg1 Qh3 8. Rg3 Qh5 9. Rg5 Qh3 10. Bf1 Qe6 11. Nxd4 (diagram) :... and Morphy was better.

Busch game

Paulsen vs. Busch, Düsseldorf 1863: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Nh6 :Making some sense, since Black is able to respond ...Qxh6 if White were to play d4 followed by Bxh6. 4. 0-0 Bc5 5. Nc3 c6 6. d4! Bxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. e5 Qg6 9. Qxd4 :And again, White is ahead in development.

References