Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

Ruy Lopez

Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall

C67solidpositional

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5Nf6
  4. 4.O-ONxe4
  5. 5.d4Nd6
  6. 6.Bxc6dxc6
  7. 7.dxe5Nf5
  8. 8.Qxd8+Kxd8
  9. 9.Nc3Bd7
526 games13%33%54%

The Berlin endgame line in which Black adds ...Bd7 after 9. Nc3, a queenless, heavily analyzed position where Black's bishop pair offsets doubled pawns.

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About the Berlin Wall

The moves 9. Nc3 Bd7 are one of the standard ways to continue the Berlin endgame. White brings the queen's knight out, and Black begins developing the light-squared bishop while the king remains on d8 without castling rights. White's most frequent continuation is 10. h3, ahead of 10. Rd1 and 10. b3. The engine judges the position roughly balanced, but Black scores clearly better in Lichess games.

Popular continuations