Chess opening · ECO C21

Center Game Accepted

The Center Game Accepted starts 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4. It ranks #39 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.

The position after 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4. White to move.

Move by move

  1. 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
  2. 1... e5Black pushes the e-pawn two squares to e5, staking a claim in the center.
  3. 2. d4White pushes the d-pawn two squares to d4, staking a claim in the center.
  4. 2... exd4Black takes the pawn on d4 with the e-pawn.

At the end of the line Black is a pawn up. White can take back on d4 at once.

What players choose next, by rating

The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Among players rated under 1200, the most popular next move is Qxd4; among players rated 2000 and up, it is c3.

RatingMost commonSecondThird
Under 1200Qxd4 78%c3 11%Nf3 7%
1200–1399Qxd4 76%c3 14%Nf3 6%
1400–1599Qxd4 52%c3 37%Nf3 8%
1600–1799c3 54%Qxd4 22%Nf3 19%
1800–1999c3 51%Nf3 27%Qxd4 18%
2000 and upc3 57%Nf3 28%Qxd4 14%

Related openings

Center GameThe line this one grows fromCenter Game: Normal VariationA variation of this lineDanish GambitA variation of this line

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