Greco Defence
{{Infobox chess opening
|openingname = Greco Defence
|image = {{Chess diagram
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|rd|nd|bd| |kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd| |pd|pd|pd
| | | | | |qd| |
| | | | |pd| | |
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| | | | | |nl| |
|pl|pl|pl|pl| |pl|pl|pl
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}}
|moves = 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6
|ECO = C40
|birth =
|nameorigin = Gioachino Greco
|parentopening = King's Knight Opening
|AKA = McConnell Defence
|chessgid = 1622164&move=3&moves=e4.e5.Nf3.Qf6&nodes=21720.21721.21722.1622164
}}
The Greco Defence (or McConnell Defence), named after Gioachino Greco (c. 1600 – c. 1634), is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
The opening is categorised by Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings as code C40.
{{AN chess|pos=toc}}
Discussion
Of the several plausible ways Black has to defend his e-pawn, 2...Qf6 is considered one of the weaker choices, since the queen is {{chessgloss|development|developed}} 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 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{{chesspunc|?!}} 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. 0-0 Qxe4 5. Bxf7+!! Ke7
:5...Kxf7{{chesspunc|??}} 6.Ng5+! wins the black queen.
6. Re1 Qf4 7. Rxe5+ Kxf7
:7...Kd8 8.Re8{{chessAN|#}}
8. d4 Qf6 9. Ng5+ Kg6 10. Qd3+ Kh6 11. Nf7# {{chessAN|1–0}}[http://www.chesscafe.com/text/lane36.pdf Opening Lanes] Gary Lane, Chesscafe.com, 2001, last question on the page.
=McConnell game=
{{Chess diagram
|tright
|Morphy vs. McConnell, 1849
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|pd|pd| |pd| |pd|pd|pd
| | |pd| |qd| | |
| | | | |pl| |rl|
| | | |nl| | | |
| | |nl| | | | |
|pl|pl|pl| | |pl| |pl
|rl| |bl|ql|kl|bl| |
|Position after 11.Nxd4
}}
Morphy vs. McConnell, New Orleans 1849:{{cite book
| last1=Benjamin
| first1=Joel
| authorlink1=Joel Benjamin
| last2=Schiller
| first2=Eric
| authorlink2=Eric Schiller
| title=Unorthodox Openings
| publisher=Macmillan Publishing Company
| contribution=Greco Defence
| pages=91–92
| year=1987
| isbn=0-02-016590-0}}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Qg6 6. Bd3
:6.Qxd4{{chesspunc|!}} 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:{{cite book
|last=Schiller
|first=Eric
|authorlink=Eric Schiller
|title=Unorthodox Chess Openings
|publisher=Cardoza Publishing
|year=1998
|chapter=McConnell Defense
|page=[https://archive.org/details/unorthodoxchesso00schi/page/287 287]
|isbn=0-940685-73-6
|chapter-url-access=registration
|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/unorthodoxchesso00schi/page/287
}}
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.
See also
References
{{Wikibooks|Chess Opening Theory|1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Qf6|Greco Defence}}