Chessy
Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit (c5) — White's Repertoire Guide
The Center Game gives you a direct path to an open, attacking game after 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4. With 3.Bc4, you develop a piece and keep the tension. When Black answers 3...c5, you push on with 4.Nf3 — entering the von der Lasa Gambit. The engine rates this +0.37, a small advantage for you as White. With White scoring 58.8% across over half a million games, this is a practical, dangerous weapon. Below you'll find Black's best defence, the most common replies, and the mistakes you can punish.
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Create a free account →The Critical Position: What You're Playing For
After 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 c5 4.Nf3, the board is wide open and your pieces are already active. Your light-squared bishop eyes f7, your knight targets the centre, and you have a space advantage. Black's central pawn on d4 is currently a target, and their own pawn on c5 can become weak if they don't develop carefully. The engine's best move for Black is 4...Nf6, leading to 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 — you'll have excellent play against Black's exposed knight on e4. This is your main line to know, because it's the hardest test of your opening.
Punishing Black's Most Common Mistakes
Statistics from 525,488 games reveal that many Black players go wrong immediately. Three of the most popular responses are actually errors you can exploit: - 4...h6 (100,371 games) is a mistake costing roughly 1.5 pawns. Instead of developing, Black wastes a tempo. White scores a crushing 63.8%. - 4...Be7 (50,785 games) is also a mistake, losing about 1.7 pawns. Again, Black prefers a passive move over development. White scores 60.9%. - 4...d6 (91,342 games) is an inaccuracy costing about 0.5 pawns. It's safer than the other two, but still not ideal. White scores 54.8%. Whenever you see these moves, trust your development: continue with O-O and central play to keep the pressure.
Black's Best Try: 4...Nf6
The engine's top choice for Black is 4...Nf6, appearing in 83,037 games. After 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1, you threaten to win the knight. The position becomes sharp and tactical, but you're the one with the safer king and the initiative. Even in this best line for Black, White still scores 57.4% — a solid plus. Your plan is simple: exploit the pinned knight and keep your attacking momentum. If Black doesn't know the precise follow-up, they can quickly find themselves in trouble.
What About 4...Nc6?
The second most common reply is 4...Nc6, with 96,450 games. It's a natural developing move that isn't a mistake — the engine recommends it as the second-best option behind Nf6. White scores 54.3% here, which is still a clear edge. Black's knight on c6 blocks their c-pawn, making it harder to break with ...d5 or ...d6 at the right moment. You can continue with standard development — O-O, maybe c3 to challenge the d4 pawn, and look for chances against f7 with your bishop. The statistics prove you're in fine shape.
Results across 525,488 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| h6 | 100,371 | 63.8% |
| Nc6 | 96,450 | 54.3% |
| d6 | 91,342 | 54.8% |
| Nf6 | 83,037 | 57.4% |
| Be7 | 50,785 | 60.9% |
| f6 | 38,542 | 63.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Center Game: von der Lasa Gambit c5 a good opening for beginners?
Yes. The opening is straightforward — you get fast development, an open position, and clear attacking chances. White scores 58.8% across over 525,000 games, and the engine gives a small edge (+0.37). It's a great way to practise open positions without needing to memorise long theory.
What is the best move for Black against the von der Lasa Gambit c5?
The engine's best move for Black is 4...Nf6, leading to 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1. Even in this line White scores a strong 57.4%, so Black still faces a tough defensive task. Many Black players choose easier-looking moves like 4...h6 or 4...Be7, but those are actually mistakes.
Why is 4...h6 a mistake for Black in this opening?
4...h6 loses roughly 1.5 pawns of advantage for Black. It does nothing to develop a piece or challenge your centre, and it wastes a tempo. In the 100,371 games where Black played h6, White won 63.8% of the time — the highest winning percentage of any popular reply.
How should White respond to 4...d6 in the von der Lasa Gambit?
4...d6 is an inaccuracy costing Black about half a pawn. You should continue developing naturally — castling kingside and building central pressure. The statistics show White scores 54.8% against this move, so you already have a solid edge without needing any tricky tactics.