Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. d4/2...exd4

Centre Game
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/8/3pP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4
ECO code: C21–C22
Parent: Open Game

Centre Game

Black goes in the direction of the Centre Game by capturing the e-pawn.

White's responses

The usual move is 3. Qxd4.

3. c3 is the Danish Gambit.

3. Nf3, the Kieseritzky variation, often leads to several transpositions. Black can transpose to the Scotch with 3...Nc6 or 3...Bb4+, to the Philidor with 3...d6, to Petrov's Steinitz variation with 3...Nf6, or to the Lewis Gambit of the Bishop's Opening with 3...Bc5 (followed by 4. Bc4 Nf6). An independent line is 3...Bc5 4. Nxd4 Nf6.

Theory table

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4

	3	4	Evaluation	Notes
Center Game	Qxd4 Nc6	Qe3 Nf6	=
Danish Gambit	c3 dxc3	Bc4 Nf6	=
Scotch Game	Nf3 Nc6	Nxd4 Bc5	=
Petrov's Defence	Nf3 Nf6	e5		Steinitz variation of Petrov's. More commonly: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4
von der Lasa Gambit	Bc4 Nf6	Qxd4 Bb4+	=
Urusov Gambit	Bc4 Nf6	Nf3 Nxe4	=
Halasz Gambit	f4

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

External links

• 365Chess: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4