ECO C20 · Center Game

Center Game

1. e4 e5 2. d4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2… exd4+0.06

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Center Game (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… exd4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.06).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.062… exd4 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 d6 7. Qb3
  2. +0.412… d6 3. Nf3 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd3 Be7 7. O-O
  3. +0.742… Nc6 3. d5 Nce7 4. Nf3 d6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Ng6 7. h4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4

All Center Game variations (14)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Center Game?
After 1. e4 e5 2. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… exd4 for Black, continuing 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 d6 7. Qb3. The position is roughly equal (+0.06). The next best moves are 2… d6 (+0.41) and 2… Nc6 (+0.74).
Is the Center Game a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.06: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Center Game?
C20. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).