Center Game

Center Game is a chess opening with the ECO code C20. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. d4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
• 2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... exd4.

About the Center Game

After 1.e4 e5, White plays 2.d4 at once. After 2...exd4 3.Qxd4, the queen comes out early and can be chased.

• Black gains a tempo with 3...Nc6, and the queen usually goes to e3.
• White often castles queenside and attacks with f4 and g4.
• Black develops fast with ...Nf6, ...Be7 or ...Bb4 and ...O-O, ...Re8.

Related openings

• It extends: King's Pawn Game (1. e4 e5)
• Continues with: King's Pawn Game: Beyer Gambit – adds 2... d5
• Continues with: King's Pawn Game: Philidor Gambit – adds 2... d6 3. dxe5 Bd7
• Continues with: Center Game Accepted – adds 2... exd4
• Related line: Center Game (1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4)
• Related line: Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4)
• Related line: Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit, Crocodile Variation (1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3)
• Related line: Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation (1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3)
• Related line: Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation (1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5)
• Related line: Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation (1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. Bc4)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses