The Centre Game is identified by White's attacking move 2.P-Q4 after a mutual king's pawn start (move 2w, left). It is also allied to the Scotch Game (as a sub-branch), and so may transpose in or out.

White relies on his extra move to take the initiative and break open the centre at once so as to follow up with an early queen development, usually leading to the Paulsen Attack (move 4w, right) and Berger Var.

This opening tends to give equal chances (and is therefore rarely seen in tournaments) but can also lead to the Danish Gambit (qv.) as well as the lesser-known Kieseritzky Variation.