ECO C22 · Center Game

Center Game: Normal Variation

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6

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

4. Qe3−0.21

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

Analyze this position

In the Center Game: Normal Variation (C22), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qe3 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.21).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.214. Qe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. Bc4 d6
  2. −0.214. Qc4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O d6 8. a3 Bc5
  3. −0.254. Qa4 Bc5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bf4 d6 7. O-O-O Ng4 8. Nh3 Bxf2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Center Game: Normal Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qe3 for White, continuing Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. Bc4 d6. The position is roughly equal (−0.21). The next best moves are 4. Qc4 (−0.21) and 4. Qa4 (−0.25).
Is the Center Game: Normal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.21: 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: Normal Variation?
C22. 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+).