Chess Openings Lab
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Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation

The Paulsen Attack is 4.Qe3, the queen's most common retreat in the Center Game. From e3 the queen stays central and supports Nc3, Bd2 and long castling, while Black chooses between ...Nf6, ...Be7 or the check on b4 to keep up development.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3
ECO
C22
Engine
−0.30 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
3,785 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Bd2 and Nc3 prepare long castling, putting the king on c1 and a rook on d1.
  • Bc4 and Nge2 is a quieter setup that keeps the king short and the queen on e3.
  • After ...Bb4+, block with Bd2 and push a3 to make Black take or retreat.
  • Keep the queen guarded on e3, since a rook on e8 can line up on the e-file.

Black

  • 4...Nf6 attacks e4 and leads to the Berger Variation with ...Be7 or ...Bb4.
  • 4...Be7 is solid: castle short, then put a rook on e8 against the queen.
  • The check on b4 trades the dark bishop for White's d2 piece and speeds up Black's castling.
  • A later ...d5 breaks open the center while the queen still blocks White's e-pawn support.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a race between development and king safety. White's main plan is Bd2, Nc3 and long castling, then pawn advances like f3, g4 and h4 on the kingside. Black castles short, plays ...Re8 and ...d5, and uses the e-file to target the queen and e4. In the quieter lines, White castles short with Bc4 and Nge2 and the game is level. Black should be careful about putting the king where White's pawns are already rolling.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.30: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.30 4...Nf6 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nc3 d5 7.exd5
  2. −0.06 4...Be7 5.Bc4 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Nge2
  3. +0.07 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Nf6 6.a3 Bxd2+ 7.Nxd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

3,785 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.4%.

under 120046.4%
1200–159951.7%
1600–199959.3%
2000 and up56.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Berger Variation4...Nf6 · 1,865 games
  • l'Hermet Variation4...f5 · rare
  • Charousek Variation4...Bb4+ · rare
  • Kupreichik Variation4...Nf6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, develop with tempo: ...Nf6 and ...Bb4 or ...Be7, castle short and break with ...d5. Rook to e8 is a key move. Do not grab e4 if it opens lines toward your own king while White's queen and rooks are ready.

Questions

What are the moves of the Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation?

The Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3. Its ECO code is C22.

Is the Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.30 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 3,785 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.4%. The most natural queen retreat, good for White players who like opposite-side castling; Black is comfortable with simple development.

What is the main idea of the Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation?

The queen retreats to e3, where it stays central and supports long castling. Black develops with ...Nf6 and ...Bb4 or ...Be7, castles, and uses ...Re8 and ...d5 against the queen and the e4 pawn.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf6, with Be7 and Bb4+ close behind. 4...Nf6 develops with tempo on e4 and keeps the ...Bb4 pin in reserve.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.