Center Game: all variations and ECO codes
18 named lines across 3 ECO codes (C20–C22). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.
The idea
White strikes the center immediately rather than developing the knight first, but the queen usually has to recapture on d4 and then move again once Black develops with Nc6 - the extra tempo Black gains by attacking the queen is exactly what makes the closely related Scotch Game, which develops the knight before pushing d4, the more respected way to play the same central idea.
The main line
How the main line scores at your rating
Real Lichess win rates for 1.e4 e5 2.d4, playing as white: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.
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| Rating band | Games | White / draw / Black | Score for white | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1400-1600 | 2,862 | 50.8% / 3.8% / 45.4% | 52.7% | ||
| 1600-1800 | 2,441 | 52.6% / 2.9% / 44.4% | 54.1% | ||
| 1800-2000 | 1,688 | 53.3% / 3.4% / 43.2% | 55.0% | ||
| 2000+ | 831 | Not enough games at this band yet. | |||
All 18 named variations
Every named line in the Center Game family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.
- C20Center Game (main line)1.e4 e5 2.d4
- C21Center Game (main line)1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4
- C21Halasz-McDonnell Gambit1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4
- C21Crocodile Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.f4 Bc5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c3
- C21Kieseritzky Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3C21Kieseritzky Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 c5C21Kieseritzky Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 c5 4.Bc4
- C21Lanc-Arnold Gambit1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.c3
- C21Schippler Gambit1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4
- C21Ross Gambit1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bd3
- C21von der Lasa Gambit1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4
- C22Berger Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6
- C22Charousek Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Bb4+ 5.c3 Be7
- C22Hall Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qc4
- C22Kupreichik Variation1.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
- C22Normal Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6
- C22Paulsen Attack Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3
- C22l’Hermet Variation1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 f5
Browse more
ECO Volume C: Open Games and the French Defense → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →
Related
Bishop’s Opening
41 named lines, ECO C23
Four Knights Game
49 named lines, ECO C47
French Defense
212 named lines, ECO C00