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Grand Prix Attack (McDonnell Attack) Resources:
A Powerful Weapon Against the Sicilian
The Grand Prix Attack (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4) is an aggressive opening that aims to create a strong pawn center and launch a kingside attack against Black. It's a great choice for players who enjoy dynamic and tactical positions.
Benefits of the Grand Prix Attack:
- Central Pawn Advance: The f4 pawn push establishes a strong central presence and opens lines for White's pieces.
- King Safety: Early development helps White castle kingside quickly, promoting safety and attacking potential.
- Initiative and Pressure: The aggressive nature puts Black on the defensive from the outset.
- Unusual and Unorthodox: This less common opening can catch opponents off guard.
- Dynamic and Tactical Play: The open lines often lead to exciting tactical opportunities.
BOOKS (Free)
Short & Sweet: Grand Prix Attack - FREE CHESSABLE COURSE - 20 Trainable Variations w/54 Min Video (GM Simon Williams & IM Richard Palliser)
Gran Prix Attack Articles
This section equips you with a treasure trove of Gran Prix articles to master this aggressive opening and unlock your attacking potential.
Grand Prix Attack: Guide to Beat the Sicilian - Solid Article on Learning Attack - Uncover the core attacking plans in the GPA. This guide explores kingside pawn thrusts, optimal piece placement, and how to exploit Black's weaknesses for a decisive victory.
Playing the Grand Prix Attack Against the Sicilian - Chessable Blog Guide (Detailed) - Delve into the rich history and strong statistical performance of the GPA. This in-depth Chessable blog post equips you with variations favored by chess masters.
Sicilian Defense: The Grand Prix Attack - Opening Guide - IM Alberto Chueca - Explore the strategic nuances of the GPA with IM Chueca. Learn key variations, gain historical context, and discover how to surprise your opponent with this aggressive opening
Grand Prix Attack - An Attacking Chess Opening - MyChessTutor - Stuck facing the Sicilian Defense? The Grand Prix Attack offers an aggressive escape! This guide explores its rich history, strong statistics, and variations favored by Caruana and Carlsen, making it perfect for surprising your opponent in faster time controls.
Grand Prix Attack articles from Inside Chess online.
This comprehensive guide by IM Zoran Ilic (archived) explores the opening in depth, analyzing variations, historical context, and strategic ideas to help you master this aggressive weapon against the Sicilian Defense.
Part One
Part Two
Tal Gambit - Wikipedia Page (2...d5 is the Tal Gambit)
( Nowadays, modern Grand Prix Attack players play 2.Nc3 before playing 3.f4.)While not strictly a "Grand Prix Attack" itself, the Tal Gambit (2...d5) is a closely related aggressive response by Black. Understanding this gambit will further enhance your knowledge of the opening complex and provide insights for both White and Black.
Gran Prix LiChess Studies: Sharpen Your Skills
Lichess offers a wealth of interactive studies to hone your Grand Prix Attack repertoire. Here's your personalized training ground:
- The Grand Prix Attack - 11 Chapter Study (100 hearts) - 11 Games Broken into Attacking and Positional Themes.
- Grand Prix Attack - 8 Chapter Interactive Study (430 hearts) - Fully Interactive Study showing Gran Prix against different Sicilians
- Grand Prix Attack(games) - 20 Chapter Study - 20 Gran Prix Games
- Grand Prix Attack - 15 Chapter Study - Nice Study w/explanations and examples against different Sicilian Lines
- Closed Sicilian and Grand Prix Attack - 7 Chapter Study - 3 Indepth Explanations w/ 4 Top Games
- Sicilian Defense, McDonnell/Gran Prix Attack - 7 Chapter Study - Broken into each different 3rd Move for white with explanations.
- BEATING THE GRANDPRIX - 6 Chapter Study (49 Hearts) - Nice study with an Interactive Quiz.
New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.
LISTUDY
( Practice it with a Movetrainer)
Gran Prix - Gran Prix Attack against 1...c4 - 7 Variations to Learn and Practice
Defending Grand Prix - 1 variation
GAME DATABASES
365Chess.com
B21: Sicilian, Grand Prix attack 1. e4 c5 2. f4 - 7700 games
B23: Sicilian, closed 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 - 79,735 games
B23: Sicilian, Grand Prix attack 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 - 12,000 Games
B23: Sicilian, Grand Prix attack, Schofman variation 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5 - 1100 Games
Chessgames.com
Sicilian Closed / Grand Prix Attack - 88 Games Chess games.com
B21 Macdonnel Attack [White] - 42 Games
Gran Prix Attack Chess Video Lessons
Here's a curated selection of video lessons to elevate your Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian Defense:
How to WIN with the Grand Prix Attack! 34 Min IM Rozman (Gotham)
Grand Prix Attack ⎸Sicilian Defense Theory - 22 Min
Chess Openings - Sicilian Defense: Gran Prix Attack - 18 Min Opening Lesson
Hikaru Reveals His ENTIRE Grand Prix Preparation - 12 Min GM Nakamura
Gran Prix: System with Bb5 - 29 Min Video (Instructive Dark Sq grip game)
The Killer Gran Prix Attack - 13 Min Video (GM Gawain Jones examines opening)
Chess Openings: How to Punish Sicilian Najdorf Players with Grand Prix Attack!! - 40 Min IM Miodrag Perunovic. - Learn how to gain the upper hand against the Sicilian Najdorf by using the Grand Prix Attack. Understand the ideas behind black's second move d6 in the Najdorf, Dragon and Scheveningen variations, and White's strategies to punish it. Discover the attacking potential and specific lines White can employ with the Grand Prix Attack to seize the initiative against the Najdorf. Study grandmaster games to see how top players have crushed the Najdorf with this opening weapon.
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Grand Prix Attack! - 24 Min - Chess Giant -This video explores key themes and strategies to understand the Grand Prix Attack, not just memorize lines. Perfect for beginners and intermediate players! Plus, a secret opening trap revealed!
Grand Prix Attack Secrets - 40 Min - IM Paulo Bersamina - Learn the key ideas and strategies behind the Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian Defense. Understand the advantages of the Closed Sicilian and Grand Prix Attack lines, as well as the important pawn advances like f4 and e5 to control the center and build an strong pawn structure.
Crush the Sicilian with the Grand Prix Attack - 2.5Hr GM King - Chessbase India - GM Daniel King provides a comprehensive tutorial on using the Grand Prix Attack as a formidable weapon against the Sicilian Defense for 1.e4 players. Learn the theory, plans and practical tips from a renowned chess trainer to effectively crush the Sicilian with the Grand Prix Attack lines.
Battling the Grand Prix with Black
Explore strategies for Black to counter the Grand Prix Attack.
- Sicilian Grand Prix Attack Refuted!! - 16 Min
- Chess made EASY: Refuting the Grand Prix Attack - 14 Min
- Pragg's outrageous new idea against the Sicilian Grand Prix - 4 Min
- Black Repertoire against Sicilian Grand Prix Attack - 39 Min GM Paragua
- Ready to Finally Slay Grand Prix Attack (GPA)? - Be my Guest!! - 28 Min IM Perunovic
- Attacking in the Sicilian, Grand Prix Attack - Understanding Your Openings #2 - 39 Min IM Andras Toth
- Facing the Anti Sicilians | Grandmaster Opening Repertoire - 56 Min - GM Moulhan Lee
Gran Prix Attack Game Videos (w/Analysis)
Gran Prix Attack - Anand vs Gefland 1996 - 36 Min Video
Magnus Carlsen Plays Model Grand Prix Attack in a Bullet Game - 4 Min
Carlsen vs Ding || MC Invitational (2020) - 7 Min
Grand Prix Attack vs Sicilian Defence : Anthony Saidy vs Bobby Fischer : New York (1968) - 22 Min
Tal Gambit Videos
Tal gambit! - Bill Hartston vs Mikhail Tal notable game - 19 Min
Slay the McDonnell Attack with Tal's Gambit - 32 Min
Sicilian Tal Gambit - The Hartston Tal Line (trap no. 616) - 5 Min
Blitz miniature - Tal gambit - 15 Min
