Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense
- 1.e4e5
- 2.f4exf4
- 3.Nf3g5
- 4.h4g4
- 5.Ne5Nf6
388 games
Kieseritzky Gambit line in which Black answers 5. Ne5 with 5...Nf6, counterattacking e4 instead of defending g4; sharp, and Black scores well.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Berlin Defense
The Berlin Defense, 5...Nf6, leaves the g4-pawn to its fate and strikes at e4 instead. White's most frequent reply, 6. Nxg4, allows 6...Nxe4 with complications, while 6...d5 is the de Riviere Variation. Paul Morphy preferred 6. Bc4, which provokes 6...d5 7. exd5. In the Rubinstein Variation, 6. d4 bolsters the center and prepares a retreat to d3. Engines judge the position roughly balanced, though Black scores heavily in online games.
Popular continuations
- 6. Nxg4 King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense 46% 179
- 6. Bc4 King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense 34% 131
- 6. Nc3 King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense 9% 36
- 6. d4 King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, Rubinstein Variation 7% 29