Center Game · C20

Main line, through 2. d4

1. e4 e5 2. d4

White opens lines quickly, even at the cost of pawns, to get the queen and bishop into the attack early.

The first 3 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Center Game.

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