Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Nf6/4. O-O
| Berlin defence | |
|---|---|
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a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O | |
| Parent: Berlin defence | |
4. O-O · Rio gambit
editCastling is the most common continuation in the Berlin defence. This leaves White's e4 pawn undefended, but gives White's rook access to the centre.
If Black accepts the gambit, 4...Nxe4, White can play 5. Re1, bringing another attacker to the e-file and recover the pawn after the knight is forced to move. One of the reasons this works is because Black's king is still in the centre: 4...Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 (from here the knight threatens to take White's bishop) 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 (Black is not in time to capture the bishop: 6...Nxb5, because the discovered check Nxc6 wins White the queen) 7. Rxe5+ Be7 and White can evacuate the bishop.
5. Re1 is very drawish, and 5. d4 is actually more common, looking to open up the centre while White has a development lead―although as this is the Berlin, 5. d4 is pretty drawish too, and usually leads to a endgame called the Berlin Wall: 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8.
Instead of accepting the pawn, Black can play 4...Be7 first: by sheltering their king and getting ready to castle, they prevent any mischief around a discovered check. Now the threat of 5...Nxe4 is more severe, as while White can still recover the pawn, they have to give up the bishop pair to do so (e.g. 5. c3?! Nxe4 6. Re1 Nd6 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Bf5). 4...Be7 functionally declines the gambit, as it gives White time to play 5. Re1 and defend the e4 pawn.
4...Bc5, the Beverwijk variation, is the main alternative to 4...Nxe4. Black pressures f2 and White's castled king. White then has the choice to capture e5, due to a tactic that arises from the c5 and e5 squares being forkable. More commonly White plays for c3 and d4 instead.
Theory table
edit.
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O
| 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Open Ruy Lopez | ... Nxe4 |
= |
| ... d6 |
= | |
| ... Bc5 |
= | |
| ... Ng4 |
= |
