Berlin Defence
The Berlin Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
The opening is a of the Ruy Lopez and is assigned codes C65–C67 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. The code C65 covers White moves other than 4.0-0, such as 4.d3. The code C66 covers the variation 4.0-0 d6, and the code C67 covers the variation 4.0-0 Nxe4.
History
The opening was first analysed in depth in the 19th century, and received its name from the Berliners that examined its variations. Due to the defensive and drawish nature of the opening, it is sometimes referred to as the Berlin Wall. The opening was rarely used in high-level games and received little attention until the Classical World Chess Championship 2000, in which challenger Vladimir Kramnik used it as a against champion Garry Kasparov. Kramnik used the Berlin in games 1, 3, 9 and 13 in the match, all four of which were drawn. After losing the match, Kasparov cited Kramnik's superior opening preparation as a reason for his loss. In an interview with John Henderson, Kramnik described his use of the Berlin:The Berlin Defence suited my strategy for the match. I had a defensive strategy – Actually, I had in my pocket some other sharper stuff to fall back on – but first I wanted to try the defensive strategy with Black and it worked so well. This was all new to Kasparov – he probably expected me to fight for equality with Black.The 2000 match caused a resurgence of interest in the Berlin Defence at all levels of the game, such as its use by Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand in games 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the World Chess Championship 2013. It is now regarded as a opening for Black to use in order to achieve an endgame.
Analysis
Black's third move attacks the e4-pawn. This is not an actual threat, however, since if Black captures on e4 then White can win back the e5-pawn. Usually in the Berlin Defence, the players exchange queens early, causing the game to quickly enter an endgame. The resulting endgames are generally viewed as equal or very slightly favourable for White. Black has the disadvantage of doubled pawns and a king stuck in the centre, but has compensation in the form of the bishop pair. Strategically, the Berlin Defence is normally used as a drawing weapon by players who want to obtain a draw as Black, and by players who prefer to play defensively and reach endgames.Open Berlin: 4.0-0 Nxe4
This is the most common move for White. White may safely castle as Black's third move does not truly threaten to win White's pawn on e4, as if Black captures it, White will always be able to win back the pawn on e5. Regardless, Black usually responds with 4...Nxe4, opening the game and leading to tactical complications. The alternatives 4...Bc5, 4...d6, and 4...Be7 are side lines.Main Line: 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6
This line usually continues 6...dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8, reaching what is called the Berlin endgame or Berlin Wall. It was famously played in all four Berlin games of the Classical World Chess Championship 2000 between Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov. Kramnik assessed the endgame as better for White, but argued that Black should be able to draw as White's advantage is insufficient to win, and successfully drew against the then reigning world champion in all four, to Kasparov's surprise.Similarly to the Semi-Tarrasch Defence, the queens are exchanged off the board early, leading to a position that is difficult for White to win. Black's king is misplaced and White has a pawn on the, but has given up the in exchange. It is difficult for White to exploit the structural superiority without opening the game for Black's bishops. Despite the line's drawish tendency, it is considered to be the sternest test of the entire Berlin Defence and is extensively analyzed. The modern consensus is that Black can hold the endgame with accurate play.
Berlin Draw: 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5
A line colloquially known as the Berlin draw is often utilized by top-level players to agree to an early draw: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 e.p. Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6, with the game ending in a threefold repetition draw claim on move 14, or soon after. Black also has the alternative moves 7...d6 and 8...d5.The line is not a forcing draw if White does not play 10.exd6 e.p., although White has little to no advantage and it is generally considered that there are better ways to play for advantage in the Berlin. This line was featured in the game Erigaisi–Gukesh, Wijk aan Zee, 2023, seen . After en passant, both sides do have nothing better to do than repeat and draw.
Ian Nepomniachtchi utilized this line against Nakamura in Round 12 of the Candidates Tournament 2022, forcing a quick draw by repetition. With two rounds remaining in the tournament, the draw extended Nepomniachtchi's lead in the tournament while Nakamura found the result acceptable to keep his second place position. Thus, both players benefited from the draw in light of the incumbent World Champion Magnus Carlsen's suggestion that he would not play another World Championship match, leaving the match to the first and second place finishers of the Candidates. During the World Blitz Chess Championship 2022, a match between Richárd Rapport and Nakamura with Black ended in a Berlin Draw that took just 36 seconds from first move to the threefold repetition. It would have taken just 20 seconds if not for Rapport spending 16 seconds deciding whether to enter the drawing line.
5.d4 Be7
This is Black's main alternative to 5...Nd6, and has been called the Rio de Janeiro Variation. It typically continues 6.Qe2 Nd6 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.dxe5, followed by 8...Nb7 or 8...Nf5. Other common lines include 6.dxe5 0-0, the Minckwitz Variation; 6.Re1 Nd6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Qxd8+ Bxd8; and 6.d5 Nd6.5.Re1
White can also continue with this line, which is also very drawish, but is analysed as marginally better for White than the 5.d4. Play usually continues 5...Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 0-0 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1, leading to a position where all of White's pieces are still on the first rank.Other lines
- 6.Ba4 and 6.Bg5 are alternatives for White after 5...Nd6.
- 5...a6 is another option for Black, either continuing 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Qe2 Bg5.
Beverwijk Variation: 4.0-0 Bc5
Zukertort Gambit: 5.c3
This usually continues with 5...0-0 6.d4 Bb6, followed by 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 d6, 7.Re1, or 7.dxe5.5.Nxe5
This usually continues with either 5...Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxe5 7.Qxe4 Qe7 or 5...Nxe5 6.d4 a6.Closed Berlin: 4.0-0 d6
Black defends the pawn on e5. It is also known as the Improved Steinitz Defence. White typically responds with 5.d4, opening the game, or 5.Re1. It is regarded as playable but passive.5.d4
This most often continues 5...Bd7 6.Nc3 Be7. The main alternative line is 5...exd4 6.Nxd4 Bd7, adding a defender to the doubly attacked knight on c6. White's most common move is 7.Nc3, which transposes to the Four Knights Game, Spanish Variation.5.Re1
In this line, Black usually plays...Bd7,...Be7, and...0-0 in some order, leaving Black with a solid but relatively passive defensive setup.Anti-Berlin: 4.d3
Because many players wish to avoid the lines following 4.0-0 Nxe4, 4.d3 has gradually become the most common move. It is often known as the Anti-Berlin. Preventing Nxe4 keeps the game closed and sidesteps the traditional Berlin endgame. Black typically responds 4...Bc5 or less commonly 4...d6. 4...Ne7 is the Mortimer Trap, which wins a piece if White plays 5.Nxe5, but is regarded as an inferior move because it loses time by moving the same piece twice.Main Line: 4...Bc5
White most often responds with 5.c3, typically continuing 5...0-0 6.0-0 and then 6...d6, 6...Re8, or 6...d5. Black may also play 5...d6 or 5...Nd4, which usually continues 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.c3. 5.Bxc6 and 5.0-0 are White's main alternative moves.Other lines
- 4...d6 is a common alternative. Black intends to place the bishop on e7 instead of c5. White's most common replies are 5.0-0 and 5.c3. 5.c4 is the aggressive but risky Duras Variation.
- 4...Ne7, intending a later...Ng6, is the Mortimer Variation.
Other lines
- 4.Nc3 transposes to the Four Knights Game, Spanish Variation.
- 4.Qe2 defends both the bishop on b5 and the pawn on e4. It usually continues 4...Bc5, or alternatively 4...d6, 4...a6, 4...Bd6, or 4...Be7.
- 4.d4 usually continues 4...exd4 5.0-0, the Nyholm Attack, or 5.e5 Ne4 6.0-0.
Example games
- Kasparov vs. Kramnik, Classical World Chess Championship 2000, game 1:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Bd7 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Nc3 Kc8 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.Rd2 c5 15.Rad1 Be6 16.Ne1 Ng6 17.Nd3 b6 18.Ne2 Bxa2 19.b3 c4 20.Ndc1 cxb3 21.cxb3 Bb1 22.f4 Kb7 23.Nc3 Bf5 24.g4 Bc8 25.Nd3 h5 26.f5 Ne7 27.Nb5 hxg4 28.hxg4 Rh4 29.Nf2 Nc6 30.Rc2 a5 31.Rc4 g6 32.Rdc1 Bd7 33.e6 fxe6 34.fxe6 Be8 35.Ne4 Rxg4+ 36.Kf2 Rf4+ 37.Ke3 Rf8 38.Nd4 Nxd4 39.Rxc7+ Ka6 40.Kxd4 Rd8+ 41.Kc3 Rf3+ 42.Kb2 Re3 43.Rc8 Rdd3 44.Ra8+ Kb7 45.Rxe8 Rxe4 46.e7 Rg3 47.Rc3 Re2+ 48.Rc2 Ree3 49.Ka2 g5 50.Rd2 Re5 51.Rd7+ Kc6 52.Red8 Rge3 53.Rd6+ Kb7 54.R8d7+ Ka6 55.Rd5 Re2+ 56.Ka3 Re6 57.Rd8 g4 58.Rg5 Rxe7 59.Ra8+ Kb7 60.Rag8 a4 61.Rxg4 axb3 62.R8g7 Ka6 63.Rxe7 Rxe7 64.Kxb3 ½–½
- Radjabov vs. Carlsen, Morelina-Linares 2008:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7.Nbd2 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.dxe4 Qf6 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxf3 13.gxf3 Ne7 14.f4 c6 15.Bc4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Ng6 17.Bg3 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Rad8 19.Rad1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rxe4 21.Rd8+ Nf8 22.Bd3 Re1+ 23.Kg2 a5 24.Ra8 Rd1 25.Bc4 Bb6 26.Rb8 Rd7 27.Ba6 bxa6 28.Rxb6 f6 29.Rxa6 Rd2 30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 Rb2 32.Bd6 Ne6 33.a4 Rc2 34.a5 Kf7 35.Bc5 Nf4+ 36.Kf3 Nd5 37.Rb6 Rc4 38.Rb7+ Kg6 39.a6 Rc3+ 40.Kg2 Nf4+ 41.Kg1 Nxh3+ 42.Kh2 Nf4 43.Be3 - Poyatos vs. Roktim, Andorra Open 2006:
- Nepomniachtchi vs. Ding, World Chess Championship 2023, game 9: