Chess Openings·Centre Game

Open Game

Centre Game

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3

Step through

7 / 7
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

Central pawns disappear early and the lines swing open. Pieces, not pawns, are the ones that take the open squares. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4. 2 pieces have left the board. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
7 moves
To move
Black
Legal replies
32
Minor pieces out
White 0 · Black 1
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/4P3/4Q3/PPP2PPP/RNB1KBNR b KQkq - 2 4

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…e5Black: Pawn e7→e5
  3. 2.d4White: Pawn d2→d4
  4. 2…exd4Black: Pawn e5→d4 (capture)
  5. 3.Qxd4White: Queen d1→d4 (capture)
  6. 3…Nc6Black: Knight b8→c6
  7. 4.Qe3White: Queen d4→e3

Nearby lines

first 4 moves shared

Danish Gambit…c3Open Gamee4 e5King's Gambit…f4Vienna Game…Nc3Bishop's Opening…Bc4Petrov Defence…Nf3 Nf6

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Centre Game?

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Open Game — Everything that starts 1.e4 e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 7 moves it is Black to move.