Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Modern Defense

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Modern Defense, the move 1. d4 is played by White, aiming to control the center of the board. This move lays the foundation for White to place their pawns on d4 and e4, establishing a strong pawn center and restricting Black's mobility. With this move, White is also inviting Black to accept the gambit by taking the d4 pawn, putting pressure on Black to make accurate moves from the very beginning of the game. Playing d4 also opens up possibilities for White's bishop and queen to enter the game with greater freedom, providing more tactical opportunities.

After White's first move of 1. d4, Black responds with 1...d5, which is a common move designed to counteract White's central pawn advance. By playing d5, Black aims to control the central squares and establish an equal share of control over the board. Additionally, d5 prepares Black's own pawn on c7 to be developed, allowing for Black's light-squared bishop to be brought out. This also allows Black to put pressure on White's pawn on d4, potentially leading to exchanges or a pawn break with ...c5 in the future. In sum, 1...d5 is a solid and flexible opening move for Black.

After the moves 1. d4 d5, White often responds with 2. c4. This move is known as the Queen's Gambit and aims to control the center by attacking Black's pawn on d5. This move can also potentially lead to the capture of Black's d-pawn, inducing Black to take the pawn with their c-pawn (2...dxc4), allowing White to establish a pawn on d4 and obtain greater control over the center. Additionally, playing c4 prepares White's pieces for active development and sets the stage for potential pawn breaks in the future, such as e4 or f4. In sum, playing c4 is a strong move that enables White to dominate the center and initiate aggressive play.

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Modern Defense, Black oftentimes chooses to respond to 2. c4 with 2... dxc4. This move is a gambit, giving up a pawn in exchange for improved central control which can be very valuable in the opening stage of the game. By capturing White's pawn on c4, Black opens up possibilities for their queen and bishop to be developed and aims to control the center of the board. Capturing with the c-pawn also reduces White's central pawn presence and makes their pawn on d4 more vulnerable to future attacks. Ultimately, the move dxc4 for Black is a dynamic response that seeks to challenge White's central pawn structure and create active piece play.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4, one common option for White is to play 3. e4, which is known as the Morphy Attack. The idea behind this move is to solidify White's pawn structure in the center of the board by supporting the pawn on d4 with the pawn on e4. This move also attacks Black's pawn on c4, essentially forcing Black to retreat the knight or lose material. Playing e4 also prepares the way for White's pieces to be developed with greater flexibility, facilitating faster and more dynamic play. In addition, playing e4 opens up a path for White's queen to join the game, potentially creating threats against Black's weakened pawn structure. In sum, playing e4 is a strong move that aims to put pressure on Black and create opportunities for White.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4, Black commonly responds with 3...Nc6. This move helps Black to develop their knight towards the center of the board and aims to put pressure on White's pawn on e4. Additionally, by developing the knight, Black prepares to castle kingside and contributes to their overall board development. 3...Nc6 also attacks White's pawn on c4, which is currently defended by the queen and forces White to make decisions about how to protect it. Finally, the move Nc6 allows Black to exert greater control over the center of the board and creates opportunities for tactical maneuvers in the future.