Center Game: Lanc-Arnold Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
73,979 games: White 57.6% / Draw 2.9% / Black 39.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 55,53356K | ||
| 4,8084,808 | ||
| 3,6433,643 | ||
| 2,6422,642 | ||
| 2,1432,143 | ||
| 1,3761,376 | ||
| 1,1861,186 | ||
| 732732 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.18 The position is about equal
Best play: 4... dxc3 5. Bc4 d5 6. Bxd5 cxb2 7. Bxb2 Nf6 8. Nc3 c6 9. Bb3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Center Game: Lanc-Arnold Gambit (ECO C21, Open Games) is a gambit in the Center Game: Kieseritzky Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. c3 (4 moves).
In 73,979 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 57.6%, Black 39.5% and 2.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…dxc3, in 75% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Center Game: Lanc-Arnold Gambit, Schippler Gambit.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Center Game: Lanc-Arnold Gambit
4…Nc6 scores best for Black: 42.3%, with Black winning 40.8% and White 56.2% of 4,808 games. The most played answer, 4…dxc3, scores lowest: 40.3% in 56K games. Stockfish's first choice is 4…dxc3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Center Game: Lanc-Arnold Gambit (C21)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/center-game-lanc-arnold-gambit