Unit 2

Types of center
The center
Types of center

Classical mobile center

Open center
Closed center
The little center
Fixed center
The center in tension
Other types of center

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

The center
Remember that, as we already explained in the rst unit of the “Intermediate
1” book, pawn structure determines the space to move and coordinate the
pieces, in addition of giving more or less control of the center of the board.
The type of center is set by the position of the central pawns.

Examples

1 2

The pieces are more effective when Each side’s central pawns placement
they are placed in central squares. determines the type of center in a
This is why it’s important to occupy given position. Central pawns are part
and control central squares. of the pawn’s structure.

3 4

White’s f and c pawns have also Sometimes the control of the center
advanced (besides the e and d pawns) is exerted by long range action of the
to help in controlling the center, while pieces, not being strictly necessary to
black has developed his kingside and occupy it with pawns.
castled.

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 Types of center 2

Classical mobile center

For both players the ideal way to occupy the center is to advance their d and
e pawns two squares, thus dominating the central squares and generating
space to move the bishops and the queen.
If those pawns are not blocked by the opponent with a central pawn, then
they can continue advancing and we call them mobile pawns.

Examples

In this position arising from the Evans The previous position allows white to
Gambit, white has created a classical advance his e pawn in order to gain
mobile center with his central pawns, space in the center and, at the same
by means of a pawn sacrice. time, attack black’s knight on f6

2 3

In this position from Pirc’s Defence, White established the classical mobile
white has formed the classical mobile center following one variation of the
center without sacricing material. Semi-Tarrasch Defence. White may
For the time being, black will not advance, when the time is right, either
dispute white the control of the center. the d or the e pawn.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

1 Point out the move that allows the creation of a classical mobile center.
The side to move is indicated by a circle on the right.

1 2

e3 Bd2 e4 Qb3 cxd4 Nxd4

3 4

g6 e6 e5 cxd4 Nxd4 Bg5

5 6

d4 e5 c4 g3 e3 e4

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 Types of center 2

Open center
The center is open when there are no pawns in the center of the board. The
open center leaves many free lines (les, ranks and diagonals) and squares
that pieces can use.
In this type of center, mainly the pieces take care of dominating the central
squares, either by direct occupation or long range action.

Examples

1 2

Following the elimination of the d and In this case the d, e and f pawns
e pawns the center becomes open. have been eliminated, thus the center
The d and e les are open and the becomes open.
bishop’s diagonals are free. White But here none of the two sides enjoys
exerts greater control on the center. a clear advantage in the control of the
center.

With his next move, white strives for After the exchanges, none of the sides
a central pawn exchange, after which obtains superiority in the control of the
the center will be opened. center. The position is about equal.
1.e5 dxe5 2.Qxd8+ Kxd8 3.Nxe5

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

2 Point out the move that results in an open center.

The side to move is indicated by a circle on the right.

1 2

cxd5 c5 Nxd5 dxe5 c4 Nc3

3 4

f3 h3 exd5 dxe5 0-0 Bxd5

5 6

Ne5 Bg5 d5 e5 Bxf6 exd5

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 Types of center 2

Closed center
The center is closed when the central pawns are mutually blocked, thus pre-
venting their movement.
This type of center leaves few lines for the movement of the pieces. Mainly the
pawns control the center and offensive actions usually take place in the anks.
A closed center can become totally or partially open, by means of exchanges.

Examples

1 2

In this position from the King’s Indian In this position from the Benoni
Defence white usually attacks on the Defence, besides the d and e pawns
queenside through a timely c4-c5 being blocked, the c pawns are also
advance, while black usually does it in blocked. Both sides will start an
the kingside by opportunely advancing offensive on the anks.
f7-f5.

3 4

In this position from the French In this position from the Spanish
Defence the center is closed because Opening, the center is also closed,
the d and e pawns are mutually being with a pawn structure that resembles
blocked. Additionally the c pawns are that of diagram 1 in this page.
blocking each other.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

3 Point out the move that results in a closed center.

The side to move is indicated by a circle on the right.

1 2

dxe5 d5 0-0 Bd3 exd5 e5

3 4

d5 dxe5 Be7 Be3 dxe5 d5

5 6

exd4 e4 Qe7 dxe5 h3 d5

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 Types of center 2

The little center

The central disposition known as little center originates when in the d and e
les there is only a white pawn on e4 and a black pawn on d6 (or the mirror
image disposition, white pawn on d4 and black pawn on e6)
The little center leaves one semi-open central le for white and another one
for black. White enjoys more space and a better control of the center of the
board.

Examples

1 2

In this position arising from the Stenitz In this position belonging to the
Variation of the Spanish Opening, you French Defence, the little center is
can observe a little center with all the formed simetrically, compared to the
previously mentioned characteristics. previous diagram, with a white pawn
on d4 and a black pawn on e6.

One way to exchange the central With this momentary knight sacrice
pawns would be: followed by a double threat, black
1... Nxe4 2.Nxe4 (2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 manages to transform the little center
3.Nxe4 leads to a satisfactory position into an open center.
for black) d5 4.Bd3 dxe4 5.Bxe4.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

4 Point out the move that results in a little center.

The side to move is indicated by a circle on the right.

1 2

Nbd7 exd4 Nc6 c3 Re1 exd5

3 4

exd4 0-0 a6 Nf6 dxe4 Nb4

5 6

c5 dxe4 Nf6 cxd4 exd4 Nxd4

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 Types of center 2

Fixed center
It is said that the center is xed when both sides are left with only one central
pawn, blocked by that of their opponent (white’s d4 vs. black’s d5 or white’s
e4 vs. black´s e5 ). Those pawns are isolated.
In this type of center there will always be, at least, two open les (a central
one and the adjacent bishop le).

Examples

1 2

This xed center is formed by white’s This other xed center is formed by
pawn on d4 and black’s d5 pawn. Next white’s e4 pawn and black’s e5 pawn.
to both these pawns there are two In this case the two open columns are
open les, e and c ones. d and f.

Sometimes a xed center can turn into The xed center turned, after both
an open one. For this to happen both captures, into a completely open
central pawns must be captured, for center.
example: 1.Nxd5 Bxd4.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

5 Point out to which move of the following opening sequence belongs each
comment.

Final position

Nº
1 c4 Nf6
2 Nf3 e6
3 d4 d5
4 e3 c5
5 Nc3 Nc6
6 cxd5 exd5
7 Bb5 Bd6
8 0-0 0-0
9 h3 cxd4
10 exd4 h6
11 Re1 Bd7
12 Ne5
13
14

Nº

After this move two different pawn exchanges are possible.

This knight move by black keeps symmetry for now.

White executes a rst exchange of pawns in the center.

Black captures on d5 with a pawn. He could have taken on

d5 with the knight (Semi -Tarrasch Defence variation).

White prevents black’s queen bishop from pinning the knight

on f3.

After this move from white the center becomes xed.

White takes advantage of the outpost offered by the d4 pawn

on e5. This is typical for the positions with a xed center.
White has a slight advantage.

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 Types of center 2

Center in tension
There are moments in which several pawn exchanges in the center are
possible, therefore the type of center is not dened yet.
The center will be in tension as long as the pawn exchanges remain
unresolved.

Example

1 2

In this typical position of the Spanish If white opts to advance the pawn
Opening, the center is in tension to d5, a closed center will arise. All
because white has several ways to following actions will take place on the
dene the situation in the center of the anks.
board.

3 4

If white chooses to exchange 1.dxe5 If white decides to carry on his

dxe5, the resulting center will be very development by means of 1.Nbd2, the
similar to the xed center, with the center remains in tension. Black can
difference that there is only one open choose to maintain the tension in the
column, the d one. center or to initiate exchanges.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

6 Point out the move that results in tension in the center.

The side to move is indicated by a circle on the right.

1 2

0-0 d3 d4 f4 e4 axb5

3 4

e5 g6 e6 d3 d4 a4

5 6

d5 d6 Qc7 Be2 d4 d3

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 Types of center 2

Other types of center

There are other pawn structures which don’t t any of the previously mentioned
types of center.
Next we will look at four different types of center which are relatively frequent
in the openings.

Examples

1 2

This position is typical for some This type of center arises in many
openings starting 1.d4. The center is variations of the Sicilian Defence, not
not completely open even if there are being either open or closed. White has
lots of open lines. The d pawn, which more space at his disposal and each
is isolated, occupies an important side has a semi-open le.
central square.

3 4

This black pawn structure is known This black pawn structure is called
as “The Hedgehog”. White has more “Stonewall” with pawns on c6, d5, e6
space but he cannot get close to and f5. Black exerts strong control
black’s pawns, which are ready to over the e4 square but his e5 square
advance at the right time. is weak and his queen’s bishop is
limited by his own pawns.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

7 Point out to which move of the following opening sequence belongs each
comment.

1 2

Open Center The little Open Classical The little

center in tension center center mobile center center

3 4

Open Closed Fixed Fixed Closed The little

center center center center center center

5 6

Fixed Center Open Open The little Classical

center in tension center center center mobile center

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 Types of center 2

A Point out to which move of the following opening sequence belongs each
comment.

Final position

Nº
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 d6
3 d4 exd4
4 Nxd4 Nf6
5 Nc3 Be7
6 g3 d5
7 exd5 Nxd5
8 Bd2 Nb4
9 Be3 Nd5
10 Qd3 Nxe3
11 Qxe3 0-0
12 0-0-0 Bc5
13 Bg2 Nd7
14 Rhe1

Nº

White immediately occupies the center with his d pawn,

proposing an exchange of central pawns.

Black exchanges central pawns thus forming the “small

center”. The main alternative is defending the center with
Nd7.

Black quickly counters in the center, proposing the exchange

of central pawns.

White agrees to the elimination of the central pawns. One

alternative would be to advance e4-e5..

With this capture the transformation of the small center into

an open center is completed.

White’s last move completes the development of all his

pieces, meanwhile his opponent has yet to nalize it. White
has a greater control of the center.

This move is meant to prevent the doubling of a pawn on c3.

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 Chess for everybody. Intermediate 2

B Point out to which move of the following opening sequence belongs each
comment.

Final position

Nº
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 Nge7
4 c3 d6
5 d4 Bd7
6 0-0 Ng6
7 Be3 Be7
8 d5 Nb8
9 Qb3 Qc8
10 Bxd7+ Nxd7
11 a4 0-0
12 a5 a6
13 Nbd2 Nf6
14 c4 Ng4

Nº

The occupation of the center with the d pawn is prepared.

The bishop interposes between the pinned knight and the

king.

This pawn initiates an expansion on the queen’s ank, which

is meant to win space in this part of the board.

After this move tension builds up in the center.

This move gives rise to the Spanish Opening.

This pawn strengthens the center and prepares a future

break in the queen’s bishop le.

This advance transforms the center in tension into a closed

one.

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