Center Game
What is the Center Game?
The Center Game is a chess opening that begins with 1. e4 e5 2. d4. It is classified under ECO C20–C22 and has 18 named variations. White chooses it with the move d4.
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. d4
ECO: C20–C22
Chosen by: White
Main variations
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bd3
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5
All 18 variations
| ECO | Variation | Moves |
|---|---|---|
| C20 | Main line | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 |
| C21 | Main line | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 |
| C21 | Halasz-McDonnell Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4 |
| C21 | Kieseritzky Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 |
| C21 | Ross Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bd3 |
| C21 | von der Lasa Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Bc4 |
| C21 | Kieseritzky Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 |
| C22 | Normal Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 |
| C22 | Hall Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qc4 |
| C21 | Kieseritzky Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. Bc4 |
| C21 | Lanc-Arnold Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. c3 |
| C22 | Paulsen Attack Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 |
| C22 | Berger Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 |
| C22 | l'Hermet Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 f5 |
| C21 | Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 |
| C21 | Lanc-Arnold Gambit, Schippler Gambit | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 |
| C22 | Charousek Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Bb4+ 5. c3 Be7 |
| C22 | Kupreichik Variation | 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. Bc4 d6 9. Nh3 |
How to learn an opening
Learn the ideas before the moves: where the pieces go, which pawn breaks matter and what the typical middlegame plans are. Then play it, and after each game look up the point where you or your opponent left the known moves. MentoChess shows that point automatically for every game you import.
Opening lessons: Three golden opening rules · Scholar’s mate and how to stop it · Italian Game: plans, not just moves · Answering 1.d4: the Queen’s Gambit Declined · Meeting the Sicilian with 2.c3 · From moves to structures