C20
King's Pawn Game
1. e4 e5
In the King's Pawn Game, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The King's Pawn Game is a chess opening classified under ECO code C20. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5: 2 moves in, with White to play.
Learn its typical plans and pawn structures rather than memorizing moves — that’s what holds up over the board.
34 named variations branch from this position; the list at the end of the page goes one move deeper into each.
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Analyze my games free →Variations of the King's Pawn Game
- Maroczy Defense1. e4 d6 2. d4 e5
- Alapin Opening1. e4 e5 2. Ne2
- Bavarian Gambit1. e4 e5 2. c4 d5
- Beyer Gambit1. e4 e5 2. d4 d5
- Clam Variation, King's Gambit Reversed1. e4 e5 2. d3 f5
- Clam Variation, Radisch Gambit1. e4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. f4 Bc5
- King's Head Opening1. e4 e5 2. f3 Nf6 3. Nc3
- Leonardis Variation1. e4 e5 2. d3
- MacLeod Attack1. e4 e5 2. c3
- MacLeod Attack, Lasa Gambit1. e4 e5 2. c3 f5
- MacLeod Attack, Norwalde Gambit1. e4 e5 2. c3 d5 3. Qh5 Bd6
- Mengarini's Opening1. e4 e5 2. a3
- Napoleon Attack1. e4 e5 2. Qf3
- Philidor Gambit1. e4 e5 2. d4 d6 3. dxe5 Bd7
- Tortoise Opening1. e4 e5 2. Bd3
- Wayward Queen Attack1. e4 e5 2. Qh5
- Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie Countergambit1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nf6
- Wayward Queen Attack, Mellon Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nh6 4. d3 g6 5. Qf3 f6 6. Ne2 d5
- Weber Gambit1. e4 e5 2. d3 d5 3. exd5 c6 4. dxc6 Nxc6
- Busch-Gass Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5
- Busch-Gass Gambit, Chiodini Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5 3. Nxe5 Nc6
- Damiano Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6
- Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4. Qh5+ g6 5. Qxe5+ Qe7 6. Qxh8
- Damiano Defense, Damiano Gambit, Chigorin Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 3. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5
- Gunderam Defense, Gunderam Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qe7 3. Bc4 f5
- Gunderam Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 c6
- La Bourdonnais Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. Bc4 Qg6 4. O-O
- McConnell Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6
- Dresden Opening1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4
- Pachman Wing Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. b4
- Schulze-Muller Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nxe5 Nxe5 4. d4
- Tayler Opening1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. d4
- Tayler Opening, Basman Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5
- Tayler Opening, Inverted Hanham1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. Nbd2