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Ruy Lopez

Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Anderssen Variation

C65positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5Nf6
  4. 4.d3d6
  5. 5.Bxc6+
723 games50%46%

A Berlin Defense sideline in which White answers 4...d6 with an immediate check on c6, trading the Spanish bishop to double Black's c-pawns.

Train it in Theoria

About the Anderssen Variation

5. Bxc6+ gives up the Spanish bishop at once to saddle Black with doubled c-pawns. With the pawn already on d6, ...dxc6 is unavailable, and 5...bxc6 is chosen in almost every game. It leaves Black the bishop pair and a half-open b-file in return for the damaged structure. Interposing with 5...Bd7 is a rare alternative. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and results are close to even.

Popular continuations