Center Game Accepted

ECO C21beginner

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 opens the centre before either side has developed a piece, which is either reckless or refreshingly direct depending on what White does next. Recapturing with the queen breaks the rule about early queen moves and gains time in return; playing 3.c3 instead offers a second pawn for a lead in development, which is the Danish Gambit. Either way the game is open, fast, and decided by piece activity rather than structure — there is barely any structure left to speak of.

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Main line

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 Bb4+

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

1.e4 What a great start! Your pawn marches up to e4, a light square right in the middle of the board. Owning the center early gives your pieces lots of room to come out and join the fun.
1...e5 Black answers boldly, pushing a pawn to e5, a dark square in the heart of the board. Now both sides have claimed a piece of the center, and the game is balanced and fair.
2.d4 You moved your pawn from its start on d2 all the way to d4. That's a great move! It helps you control the important middle squares of the board.
2...exd4 Black's pawn slides over to grab the pawn on d4, a dark square. Snapping up a center pawn like this is a happy moment, and now Black has a pawn planted deep on d4.
3.c3 White moves the pawn from c2 to c3, challenging Black's pawn on d4 and contesting the center.
3...d5 Black strikes back, pushing a pawn to d5, a light square in the middle. With pawns on d4 and d5, Black is fighting hard for the center and bravely standing up to the e4 pawn.
4.exd5 Your e-pawn swings across to win the pawn on d5, a light square. Now you have a strong pawn sitting on d5, deep in Black's half, and your c3 pawn helps hold the center too.
4...Qxd5 Black moves their queen from the back row to the middle of the board. It takes a white pawn, which is a great way to start your pieces into the game and control the important middle squares.
5.cxd4 Nice recapture! Your c-pawn steps over to take the pawn on d4, a dark square. Black's queen is out early on d5, while your fresh pawn on d4 keeps a firm grip on the center.
5...Nc6 Black moves their knight from b8 to c6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece into the game and closer to the middle.
6.Nf3 White moves their knight from g1 to f3. This is a good developing move, getting a strong piece into the game.
6...Bg4 Black moves their bishop from c8 to g4. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece out to help in the game.

Open the full annotated variation tree — free account

Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Rating	Games	White wins	Draws	Black wins	Position after
400-600	164	48.2%	6.1%	45.7%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3
600-800	34	32.4%	11.8%	55.9%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
800-1000	326	49.1%	4%	46.9%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
1000-1200	119	53.8%	2.5%	43.7%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
1200-1400	3,038	52.9%	3%	44.1%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
1400-1600	6,979	54%	2.8%	43.2%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
1600-1800	1,268	56.2%	3.5%	40.3%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
1800-2000	2,089	52.7%	3.9%	43.4%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
2000-2200	1,863	52.3%	6.1%	41.7%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4
2200-2400	977	50.1%	6.3%	43.6%	1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4:

Be2 — played 42.5% of the time (White wins 60.5%, draws 2.7%, Black wins 36.8%)
Nc3 — played 38.1% of the time (White wins 51.8%, draws 2.4%, Black wins 45.8%)
Be3 — played 14.4% of the time (White wins 47.4%, draws 3.8%, Black wins 48.9%)

Frequently asked questions

Isn't bringing the queen out early a mistake?

It is a concession, and here it is a calculated one. Qxd4 is attacked by ...Nc6, so Black gains a tempo — but White's queen retreats to a good square, and the open position means White's remaining development flows quickly. This is a case where the general rule is real but the specific position pays for breaking it.

Should Black accept the Danish Gambit pawn?

Taking one is fine; taking everything is where the trouble starts. After 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 White's bishops rake the board and Black's development has not started. Many strong players return a pawn at the right moment with ...d5, which defuses the attack and leaves the material roughly level.

Is the Center Game good for club players?

As a surprise weapon, yes. It leads to open positions where the better-prepared player usually wins quickly, and most 1...e5 players have prepared for the Italian and the Ruy Lopez rather than this. As a lifelong main line it is thinner than the alternatives.