Chessy
Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit for White
After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4, you reach the Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit. It is Black to move, and your task as White is to keep the initiative practical, not to force anything. The engine says this is already a little awkward for you, so your goal is to know what Black is trying to do and how to react confidently in the drill below. Focus on development, piece activity, and quick punishment if Black slips.
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Create a free account →What the position is really about
This opening is not about memorising a long forced line. It is about a simple fight for initiative after the early central trades. With your bishop developed to c4, you are aiming at fast piece activity and pressure on Black’s position before Black finishes development. Since it is Black to move, the key question is whether Black can equalise calmly or whether you can make the position uncomfortable with accurate play.
What Black usually does here
The most-played continuations tell you what to expect in practice. Black most often chooses Nc6 or Nf6, and both are serious tries to develop quickly. Other common moves are c5, d6, Bc5, and Bb4+. In the drill, you should be ready to meet these natural developing moves without drifting into passivity. Good opening play here is often less about a trap and more about staying alert to the first accurate reply.
The engine’s main answer
Stockfish rates this -0.53, a small edge for Black. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine’s best move is Nf6, continuing Nf6 Qxd4 Nc6 Qe3. That tells you Black’s most precise idea is simple development with pressure on the centre, so you should treat this as a position where accurate play matters from the very next move.
The replies you should know
The database gives you a useful map of what happens after this position. Against Nc6, White scores 52.0% in 477,501 games. Against Nf6, White scores 51.5% in 137,117 games. Against c5, White scores 56.6% in 112,142 games. Against d6, White scores 51.3% in 103,166 games. Against Bc5, White scores 56.9% in 90,477 games. Against Bb4+, White scores 53.3% in 28,448 games. Those numbers do not mean you can relax, but they do show that this position appears often and that Black does not get an easy win by following the most common paths.
What to learn from the mistakes
The mistake list is especially useful for training. Nc6 is an inaccuracy, losing about 0.5 pawns, with Nf6 better. c5 is a mistake, losing about 1.2 pawns, again with Nf6 better. d6 is an inaccuracy, losing about 0.8 pawns, with Nf6 better. In the drill, that means you should be ready to punish loose or inaccurate development and keep your pieces active when Black does not choose the most precise continuation.
Results across 1,061,870 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 477,501 | 52.0% |
| Nf6 | 137,117 | 51.5% |
| c5 | 112,142 | 56.6% |
| d6 | 103,166 | 51.3% |
| Bc5 | 90,477 | 56.9% |
| Bb4+ | 28,448 | 53.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit good for White?
It is playable, but the engine says the position is already slightly better for Black with a score of -0.53. You are not lost, but you should not expect an automatic advantage. The opening rewards alert play and good development.
What is Black’s best move here?
The engine’s best move is Nf6. The listed continuation is Nf6 Qxd4 Nc6 Qe3, which shows Black aiming for quick development and pressure on the centre. In practice, that is the line to respect most in the drill.
Which replies from Black happen most often?
The most-played continuations are Nc6, Nf6, c5, d6, Bc5, and Bb4+. Nc6 is the most common with 477,501 games, and Nf6 is next with 137,117 games. That makes these the main replies to prepare against first.
Which Black moves are mistakes in this position?
Nc6 is an inaccuracy, c5 is a mistake, and d6 is an inaccuracy. All three are worse than Nf6 according to the engine. If your opponent chooses one of them, stay calm and keep playing the position actively.
How many games feature the Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit position. White wins 53.0%, Black wins 44.0%, with 3.0% draws — based on real rated games.