Open games & French

Center Game

1.e4 e5 2.d4

The Center Game starts with 1.e4 e5 2.d4 and is catalogued under ECO C20, in the open games & french half of the book. The catalog indexes 18 lines inside it, grouped into 15 named variations, and the position after those moves has 4 playable continuations to walk from here.

Opening repertoire map

Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.

Current position
Danish Gambit Accepted
10 plies
Copenhagen Defense
10 plies
Schlechter Defense
10 plies
Classical Defense
10 plies
Chigorin Defense
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 1.e4

    Claims the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and king’s bishop.

    Idea: Build quick development and make early castling possible.

  2. 1…e5

    Meets White’s center directly and opens lines for Black’s queen and bishop.

    Idea: Fight for equal central space in a balanced, open position.

  3. 2.d4

    Advances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  4. 2…exd4

    Captures the pawn on d4 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Open lines in the center and reshape the center for the next phase.

  5. 3.c3

    Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

  6. 3…dxc3

    Captures the pawn on c3 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.

  7. 4.Bc4

    Develops the bishop to c4, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  8. 4…cxb2

    Captures the pawn on b2 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.

  9. 5.Bxb2

    Captures the pawn on b2 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

4 moves
Bb4+Danish Gambit Accepted: Copenhagen Defense1 named lineDevelops the bishop to b4, bringing it into the game, forcing the king to answer a check.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d5Danish Gambit Accepted: Schlechter Defense1 named lineAdvances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nf6Danish Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense1 named lineDevelops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Qe7Danish Gambit Accepted: Chigorin Defense1 named lineRepositions the queen to e7, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.

Named variations

Each line below is an indexed entry under Center Game. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.

Openings from the same volume

ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Center Game.