ECO C21 · Center Game

Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3

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

3… Bb4+−0.15

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

Analyze this position

In the Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation (C21), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bb4+ for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.15).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.153… Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 c5 5. Bc4 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5
  2. +0.063… Bc5 4. Bc4 d6 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Nxc6
  3. +0.293… d5 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Qxd5 Nxd5 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb3

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5
  • 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. Bc4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bb4+ for Black, continuing 4. Nbd2 c5 5. Bc4 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5. The position is roughly equal (−0.15). The next best moves are 3… Bc5 (+0.06) and 3… d5 (+0.29).
Is the Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.15: 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: Kieseritzky Variation?
C21. 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+).