Lopez Opening

Not to be confused with Ruy Lopez.
Lopez Opening
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
e5 black pawn
e4 white pawn
c3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves 1.e4 e5 2.c3
ECO C20
Parent Open Game
Synonym(s) MacLeod Attack

The Lopez Opening (or MacLeod Attack) is a chess opening characterized by the moves:

1. e4 e5
2. c3


The opening was played frequently by 19th century Scottish–Canadian chess master Nicholas MacLeod but has otherwise arisen rarely in tournament play.

Discussion

White's second move prepares to push a pawn to d4, establishing a strong center. Play can potentially transpose to other openings, most likely the Ponziani Opening or the Göring Gambit in the Scotch Game. However, Eric Schiller states in Unorthodox Chess Openings that the opening is too slow; that Black can respond vigorously with 2...d5! to eliminate transpositional possibilities and solve all of his opening problems, as after 1.e4 e5 2.c3 d5! 3.exd5 Qxd5, 4.Nc3 is not available to chase the queen away and gain a tempo.

See also

References

    The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: Lopez Opening

    Schiller, Eric (2003). Unorthodox Chess Openings. Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9. 


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