Center Game Accepted

Center Game Accepted is a chess opening with the ECO code C21. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 4 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. 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
• 2... exd4 – Black captures on d4 with the e-pawn

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3. c3, 3. Qxd4.

About the Center Game Accepted

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: Center Game (1. e4 e5 2. d4)
• Continues with: Center Game – adds 3. Qxd4
• Continues with: Center Game: Halasz-McDonnell Gambit – adds 3. f4
• Continues with: Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation – adds 3. Nf3
• Continues with: Center Game: Ross Gambit – adds 3. Bd3
• Continues with: Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit – adds 3. Bc4
• Continues with: Danish Gambit – adds 3. c3

Browse every named opening · Opening courses