The Center-Counter is identified by Black's response of d5 to White's first move of e4. The most natural move for White is to capture the pawn immediately with exd5, and then leave it for Black to prove the soundness of the offering. Black can get the pawn back with the somewhat drastic Qxd5, which obviously creates the immediate Queen-hunt, or Black can prefer development with Nf6, leaving the pawn-grabbing for later. We feel that there is no good reason for Black to wait to regain the pawn, and thus always play 2...Qxd5.

There are, of course, many moves White could choose other than exd5, but none of them are of much concern to Black. Most of them are harmless (Bd3, Qe2, c3, b3, a4, h4, h4, g4, f4, Na3, Nh3, Ne2, d3, c5, b4, a3, Nc3, f3, d4, g3, h3, Nc3), but two (Bb5+, e5) deserve a quick look.

e4 d5
Bb5+ Bd7
Black may play c6 of course, but Bd7 is cleaner at this point.

e4 d5
e5 Bf5
d4 e6
Black is just fine. After White takes the pawn and Black recaptures with the Queen, if White plays any move other than Nc3, Black really has a choice of comfortable, natural developing moves. Should White play 3)d4, Black can answer with an early Anderssen Gambit of ...e5 (more on the usual Anderssen Gambit approach below).

The other lines we'll look at are no doubt more common, and the Mieses-Kotrc Gambit is of particular interest for its similarity to a St. George.

e4 d5 exd5 Qxd5 Nc3 Qa4 Nf3 Nf6 [The oft-recommended Bg4 can lead to a wild game, if you like: Nf3 Bg4, b4 Qxb4, Rb1! ---] Be2 Nc6 0-0 Bg4 d3 e6 Bf4 0-0-0 Equal.	e4 d5 exd5 Qa4 b4 Qxb4 This is the Mieses-Kotrc Gambit, and as you can see, it leads Black into a position not unlike the St. George. Although Black will probably not see this variation often, it would be interesting to explore the effectiveness of a queenside fianchetto here. Rb1 Qd6 Nf3 Nf6 d4 a6 Bc4 e6 0-0 Be7 Re1 b5 Equal or Black slightly better.	e4 d5 exd5 Qxd5 Nc3 Qa4 h3 Nf6 A quieter line.
Anderssen Gambit e4 d5 exd5 Qxd5 Nc3 Qa4 d4 e5 This marks the Anderssen Gambit, first used by Adolf Anderssen against Paul Morphy. It can be used frequently by Black since d4 is considered the best move by White. I used it first over-the-board at a U.S. Open game, and although I was a few hundred rating points lower than my opponent, I lasted until a King and Pawn endgame. My opponent was clearly taken aback. The line is Black's most aggressive. dxe5 Bb4 In the game with Morphy, Anderssen played Qe5+, and Morphy then played Be2. That game ended in 25 moves, although you can't really blame it on the opening. Anderssen was no slouch, by the way, but had the bad fortune, like many others of his time (circa 1850), of meeting the Morphy buzz-saw. Anderssen later lost what was essentially a world championship match to Steinitz, 8 games to 6. Nf3 Bg4 Bd2 Nc6 a3 Nd4 Be2 Bf3 gf3 0-0-0 0-0 Bc3 bc3 Nc6 Equal.	Anderssen Two d4 e5 Nf3 Bb4 The Knight move is considered White's best. Bd2 Bg4 Be2 ed4 Nd4 Qe5 Ncb5 Be2 Qe2 Bd2+ Kd2 Qe2 Ke2 Kd8 White has a slight advantage. This is from Tarrasch-Mieses, Gothenberg, 1920. The actual last move in the above line was Na6, which is a bit awkward. Mieses finally lost in 41 moves. Still, that game has a lot to offer for the Anderssen enthusiast.	Anderssen Three d4 e5 Nf3 Bg4 Bd2 exd4 Qe2+ Be7 Nb5 Qb6 Qe5 Kf8 Nxc7 Nc6 Or, Qxc7 BxNf3 Qf4 Qxb2 Rc1 Rc8 Interesting position. If, after e4 d5/ed5 Qd5/Nc3 Qa4/d4 e5, White does not take the pawn or play Nf3, Black has few problems. For example: Qh5 Nc6, Bb5 Bd7, Bc6 Bc6, d5 Bb4, dc6 Bc3, Kf1 Bd4, Ne2 Nf6 and Black is better. Or, de5 Bb4, Bd2 Nc6, a3 Nd4, Bd3 Qe5, Nge2 Ne2, Qe2 Qe2, Be2 Be7, equal.

The Center-Counter has been analyzed and written about far more than the St.George, and, accordingly, there is more theory to master before confidently entering a middle game. On the other hand, the Center-Counter certainly offers tactical excitement, and can be yet another rabbit waiting to jump from Black's bag of tricks. Share your Anderssen ideas or games with us!