C22 Center Game: Normal Variation
C22 holds seven named lines, all under the name Center Game. It leaves C21 (Center Game) with 3...Nc6. White’s pieces and pawns attack 14 squares in Black’s half, the second-highest count of all 500 codes. White, to move in that position, has 49 legal moves, the second-highest count of all 500 codes. Queenside castling appears once among its lines, in Center Game: Kupreichik Variation.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | d4 | exd4 |
| 3 | Qxd4 | Nc6 |
Moves only C22 plays
Same as C21 up to 2...exd4, then:
- 3.Qxd4 The queen on d1 takes the pawn on d4, guarding the pawn on e4.
- 3...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8, attacking the queen on d4.
Lines filed under C22
All seven share their first six plies, the whole reference line and then split two ways at White’s move 4.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Game: Normal Variation | (the shared start itself) | 6 | |
| Center Game: Hall Variation | 4.Qc4 | 7 | |
| Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation | 4.Qe3 | 7 | |
| Center Game: Berger Variation | 4.Qe3 Nf6 | 8 | |
| Center Game: l’Hermet Variation | 4.Qe3 f5 | 8 | |
| Center Game: Charousek Variation | 4.Qe3 Bb4+ 5.c3 Be7 | 10 | |
| Center Game: Kupreichik Variation | 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 O-O 7.O-O-O Re8 8.Bc4 d6 9.Nh3 | 17 | both castled |
The road to C22
- 1.e4 … 2.d4three earlier stops: B00, C20
- 2...exd4C21 Center Game Accepted
- 3.Qxd4C21 Center Game
- 3...Nc6C22
The position after 3...Nc6
Black has brought out the knight on c6; White has not yet moved a knight or bishop. White has a half-open d-file; Black a half-open e-file. White could capture with Qxa7, Qxd7+, Qxg7.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C45 | Scotch Game | three squares: d1, g1, d4 |
| B44 | Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation | five squares: d1, g1, d4, e6, c7 |
| B00 | King’s Pawn Game | six squares: d1, d2, d4, c6, e7, b8 |
| B12 | Caro-Kann Defense | six squares: d1, d4, c6, c7, e7, b8 |
| C00 | French Defense | six squares: d1, d2, d4, c6, e6, b8 |
| C20 | King’s Pawn Game | six squares: d1, d2, d4, e5, c6, b8 |
| C44 | King’s Knight Opening: Normal Variation | six squares: d1, g1, d2, f3, d4, e5 |