Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Open Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation

C67solid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5Nf6
  4. 4.O-ONxe4
  5. 5.d4Nd6
  6. 6.dxe5
407 games38%13%49%

Berlin line of the Ruy Lopez in which White answers 5...Nd6 with 6. dxe5, allowing the bishop to be taken and steering toward mass exchanges.

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About the l'Hermet Variation

The l'Hermet Variation arises when White meets the knight's attack on b5 with 6. dxe5 rather than exchanging or retreating the bishop. The almost universal 6...Nxb5 does not win a piece. After 7. a4 Nbd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d5 10. exd6 Qxd6, wholesale trades produce the well-known Berlin draw, where the queens can only shuttle between files. Engines judge the position level, and Black scores well online. The line is named after the German master and composer Rudolf l'Hermet.

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