Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Open, Berlin Variation

C82positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nf6
  5. 5.O-ONxe4
  6. 6.d4b5
  7. 7.Bb3d5
  8. 8.dxe5Be6
  9. 9.c3Nc5

No game statistics for this position yet.

Open Ruy Lopez line in which Black meets 9. c3 with 9...Nc5, retreating the centralized knight before developing the king's bishop; a rare choice.

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About the Berlin Variation

After 9. c3, the Berlin Variation has Black retreat the e4-knight with 9...Nc5 instead of choosing the Classical 9...Be7 or the Italian 9...Bc5. The knight leaves its exposed post and hits the b3-bishop, but 9. c3 has already freed c2 as a retreat, so the bishop cannot be forced off. Black delays developing the f8-bishop and castling. The line is rarely seen compared with the main 9th-move alternatives.

Popular continuations

No continuations known for this position yet.