Center Game: Accepted & Paulsen Attack
Center Game
Definition
The Center Game is an open game that begins with the moves
- e4 e5
- d4 exd4
Usage and Typical Continuations
After 2…exd4, White has two main ways to recapture the pawn:
- 3.Qxd4 – the classical line, putting the queen in the center.
- 3.Nf3 – delaying the recapture; this often leads to the Paulsen Attack after 3…Nc6 4.Bc4.
Black may decline the pawn (2…d5) but that transposes to Scandinavian-type positions; the term “Center Game” is normally reserved for the accepted line or, at minimum, for the offer of the pawn on d4.
Strategic Significance
• Because White’s queen or minor pieces come out quickly, development can be rapid but risky.
• Black aims at exploiting the exposed queen (after 3.Qxd4) or the temporarily loose pawn (after 3.Nf3) to gain time.
• Central control and open files arise very early, making tactical alertness critical for both sides.
Historical Notes
The Center Game was popular in the 19th century when romantic, gambit-oriented play dominated elite practice. Masters such as Adolf Anderssen and Johannes Zukertort used it frequently. Its sharpness later fell out of favor, but it still appears in modern rapid and blitz, notably in games by Alexander Grischuk and Vassily Ivanchuk who appreciate its surprise value.
Example
Here the queen retreats to e3 instead of the commonly played d1, offering White a fresh position with unbalanced pawn structures.
Interesting Facts
- The opening’s earliest known appearance is Gioachino Greco’s manuscript (c. 1620).
- In “Morphy vs. Schulten, New York 1857” Morphy used the Center Game and won in only 24 moves.
- Some modern engines rate the immediate 3.Qxd4 as slightly dubious, yet practical results in fast time controls are nearly equal for both sides.
Center Game, Accepted
Definition
The label “Accepted” specifies that Black does capture the offered pawn on d4 with 2…exd4. Thus the term emphasizes the main branch of the Center Game rather than the Scandinavian-like 2…d5 decline.
Typical Plans
- For White: Regain the pawn swiftly, castle quickly (often queenside), and leverage open lines for tactical pressure.
- For Black: Develop smoothly (…Nc6, …Nf6, …Bc5), attack the queen or the e4-pawn after it re-advances, and aim for an eventual …d5 break to free the position.
Critical Move Orders
- 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 (or 4.Qd1) – Main accepted line, sometimes called the “Main Variation.”
- 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 – Leads directly to the Paulsen Attack (see below).
Example Game
J. Polgar – O. Glek, Biel Interzonal 1993:
Judith Polgar scored a dynamic victory, showing that the Accepted line can still be poisonous even against well-prepared opposition.
Curiosities
- ECO codes distinguish C21 (3.Qxd4) and C22 (3.Nf3) yet both are sub-branches of the Accepted Center Game.
- Players aiming for surprise occasionally meet 1…e5 specialists with 2.d4 precisely because many opponents study only the Ruy Lopez and Italian Game.
Paulsen Attack (in the Center Game)
Definition
The Paulsen Attack is a specific variation of the Center Game, Accepted, named after the German master Louis Paulsen (1833-1891). It arises after
- e4 e5
- d4 exd4
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4
Key Ideas
- Speed over material: By not taking on d4 immediately, White gains a tempo to put the bishop on c4, eyeing f7.
- Flexible pawn recovery: White can recapture on d4 later with either the knight (Nxd4) or the queen after c3.
- Central tension: Black must decide whether to protect d4 (…Bc5 or …Nf6) or return it in favor of development.
Main Lines
After 4.Bc4, some popular continuations are:
- 4…Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Nxd4 d5 7.Re1! — leading to rich complications.
- 4…Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5! — White chases the knight and strives for a big center.
- 4…d6 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Be7 — a quieter, solid route for Black.
Historical Significance
Louis Paulsen introduced this gambit-style approach in the mid-19th century, often beating players who were reluctant to defend accurately in the face of early piece pressure. Although eclipsed by more theoretically sturdy lines such as 3.Qxd4, the Paulsen Attack has enjoyed sporadic revivals by creative players. Alexei Shirov, for example, used it to score a swift win in a 1999 rapid game.
Famous Example
(Shirov – Timman, Monaco Amber Rapid 1999) White’s energetic 5.e5 built an imposing pawn wedge, and Shirov went on to launch a kingside attack culminating in a sacrificial mating net on h7.
Interesting Facts
- The move 5.e5! (after 4…Nf6) was once considered dubious, but computer engines now reveal strong compensatory chances for White.
- Paulsen’s original analysis appeared in Deutsche Schachzeitung (1864), making it one of the earliest systematically studied gambit lines.
- Because theory is relatively light, the Paulsen Attack is a practical weapon for club players who wish to avoid heavy opening books.