Theoria
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Philidor Defense

Berger Variation

C41positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3d6
  3. 3.d4exd4
  4. 4.Nxd4Nf6
  5. 5.Nc3Be7
  6. 6.Be2O-O
  7. 7.O-Oc5
  8. 8.Nf3Nc6
  9. 9.Bg5Be6
  10. 10.Re1

No game statistics for this position yet.

A main line of the Philidor Exchange Variation in which Black plays ...c5 with tempo before ...Nc6, accepting a weaker d6-pawn for freer piece play.

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About the Berger Variation

The Berger Variation is one of the main lines of the Exchange Variation of the Philidor Defense. It arises after 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O. Black then plays 7...c5, which gains a tempo on the centralized knight and comes before ...Nc6 so that the c-pawn is not blocked. The cost is a weakened pawn on d6. After 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Re1, White has completed development and can aim pieces at d6 along the half-open d-file.

Popular continuations

No continuations known for this position yet.