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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Bc4/2...Nf6

< Chess Opening Theory‎ | 1. e4‎ | 1...e5‎ | 2. Bc4
Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white bishopd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/5n2/4p3/2B1P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK1NR w

Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6

Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defence

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2... Nf6

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Black develops the king's knight and in doing so threatens the e4-pawn and makes it possible to play d5. This move also preempts Scholar's Mate by preventing 3. Qh5, and blocking the queen's path in the 3. Qf3 version of the mate.

White's options:

  • 3. d3 is the most common continuation.
  • 3. d4 can go either to Ponziani-Urusov Gambit or to the Two Knights Defence by transposition.
  • 3. Nc3 transposes to the Vienna Game (Falkbeer Defence), with an opportunity to use a center fork trick.
  • 3. Nf3 transposes to Petrov's Defence.
  • 3. f3 should not be played

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6

3 4
Modern Bishop's Opening d3
Nc6		 Nf3
Be7		=
Ponziani/Urusov Gambit d4!? =
Vienna Game
by transposition		 Nc3=
Petrov's Defence
by transposition		 Nf3⩱

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References

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Wikipedia has related information at Bishop's Opening

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