King's Pawn Game (C20-C44 (+B00-B07))

38 named lines in this family, ECO C20-C44 (+B00-B07). Every one of them opens 1. e4, so that move's note is written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

Main line, through 1. e4B00

1. e4

In the centre, White holds e4.

Maróczy DefenseB07

1. e4 d6 2. d4 e5

In the centre, White holds d4 and e4 while Black holds e5.

1... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5. Theory calls this the Pirc Defense.
2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
2... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Maróczy Defense.

Main line, after 1... e5C20

1. e4 e5

In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds e5.

Alapin OpeningC20

1. e4 e5 2. Ne2

2. Ne2 Develops the knight to e2, eyeing d4. Theory calls this the Alapin Opening.

King's Head Opening, through 2. f3C20

1. e4 e5 2. f3

2. f3 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the King's Head Opening.

Leonardis VariationC20

1. e4 e5 2. d3

2. d3 Supports the centre, adding control of e4. Theory calls this the Leonardis Variation.

MacLeod AttackC20

1. e4 e5 2. c3

2. c3 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the MacLeod Attack.

Mengarini's OpeningC20

1. e4 e5 2. a3

2. a3 Takes b4 away from Black's bishop. Theory calls this the Mengarini's Opening.

Napoleon AttackC20

1. e4 e5 2. Qf3

2. Qf3 Brings the queen out with a concrete threat - the f7 pawn is suddenly hanging. It also props up the e4 pawn. Theory calls this the Napoleon Attack.

Tortoise OpeningC20

1. e4 e5 2. Bd3

2. Bd3 Develops the bishop to d3, eyeing e4. Theory calls this the Tortoise Opening.

Wayward Queen AttackC20

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5

Black's pawn on f7 is pinned against the king.

2. Qh5 Develops with a pin: the pawn on f7 is stuck shielding the king. Theory calls this the Wayward Queen Attack.

Bavarian GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. c4 d5

In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds d5 and e5.

2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Bavarian Gambit.

Beyer GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. d4 d5

In the centre, White holds d4 and e4 while Black holds d5 and e5.

2. d4 Theory calls this the Center Game.
2... d5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Beyer Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Clam Variation, King's Gambit ReversedC20

1. e4 e5 2. d3 f5

2... f5 Challenges the pawn on e4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the King's Gambit Reversed: development and initiative over material.

MacLeod Attack, Lasa GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. c3 f5

2... f5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Lasa Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie CountergambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nf6

2... Nf6 Develops the knight with tempo - it attacks the queen on h5. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Kiddie Countergambit: development and initiative over material.

King's Head Opening, after 2... Nf6C20

1. e4 e5 2. f3 Nf6 3. Nc3

2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

Clam Variation, Radisch GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. f4 Bc5

MacLeod Attack, Norwalde GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. c3 d5 3. Qh5 Bd6

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Philidor GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3. dxe5 Bd7

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Weber GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. d3 d5 3. exd5 c6 4. dxc6 Nxc6

Wayward Queen Attack, Mellon GambitC20

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nh6 4. d3 g6 5. Qf3 f6 6. Ne2 d5

2... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the e5 pawn.

Busch-Gass GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5

2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
2... Bc5 Develops the bishop to c5, eyeing d4. It eyes f2, the one square only the king defends. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Busch-Gass Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Damiano DefenseC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6

2... f6 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Damiano Defense.

Gunderam GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 c6

2... c6 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Gunderam Gambit: development and initiative over material.

McConnell DefenseC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6

2... Qf6 Develops the queen with tempo - it attacks the knight on f3. Theory calls this the McConnell Defense.

Busch-Gass Gambit, Chiodini GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 3. Nxe5 Nc6

The structure hands Black the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Gunderam Defense, Gunderam GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qe7 3. Bc4 f5

2... Qe7 Develops the queen to e7, eyeing e5. Theory calls this the Gunderam Defense.

La Bourdonnais GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. O-O

White's pawn on g2 is pinned against the king.

Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5

White's pawn on e4 is pinned against the king.

Damiano Defense, Damiano GambitC40

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4. Qh5+ g6 5. Qxe5+ Qe7 6. Qxh8

Dresden OpeningC44

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4

King's Pawn Game

The moves every line here plays