Berlin Defense, Zukertort Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Bb5Nf6
- 4.O-ONxe4
- 5.d4Be7
- 6.Qe2Nd6
- 7.Bxc6bxc6
- 8.dxe5Nb7
- 9.c4
No game statistics for this position yet.
A Berlin Defense line of the Ruy Lopez in which White meets the Rio de Janeiro setup with 9. c4, clamping d5 and restricting the knight on b7.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Zukertort Variation
The Zukertort Variation is a branch of the Rio de Janeiro Variation (5...Be7) of the Berlin Defense. After 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7, White plays 9. c4 instead of 9. Nc3, which was the usual 19th-century treatment. The c-pawn controls d5 and makes the freeing ...d5 harder to achieve, which keeps the knight on b7 out of play. White also keeps the e5 pawn as a wedge, while Black's doubled c-pawns stay as a long-term weakness and the bishop pair is Black's compensation.
Popular continuations
No continuations known for this position yet.