28. Berlin: Direct Attack with 4.Qe2

The move 4.Qe2 directly defends e4 and prepares the central push c3-d4, taking away from Black any option of entering the endgame.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.d4 Bb6 8.Bg5

Move by move

1.e4 – White takes the centre and opens the diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop. In the Ruy Lopez this pawn will often be at the heart of the fight: Black will attack it with ...Nf6 and, in the Open Variation, will even capture it with ...Nxe4.
1...e5 – Black answers symmetrically: it contests d4 and f4, prevents e4-e5 and frees the f8-bishop. From here White will build the whole Ruy Lopez on pressure against this pawn.
2.Nf3 – Develops the knight with a direct attack on the e5 pawn, which now has to be defended. The knight also prepares kingside castling and supports a future d2-d4 push.
2...Nc6 – Defends e5 while developing a piece and controlling d4. This very knight, the only defender of e5, will be the target of White's next move.
3.Bb5 – The Ruy Lopez: the bishop attacks the c6-knight, the defender of e5. There is no immediate threat yet (Bxc6 dxc6 Nxe5 Qd4 regains the pawn), but the pressure on c6 will last throughout the opening.
3...Nf6 – The Berlin Defence: instead of ...a6 Black attacks e4 at once with the knight. It is one of the most solid defences against the Ruy Lopez and often leads to an early endgame.
4.Qe2 – The queen defends e4 and avoids the Berlin with ...Nxe4. White prepares c3 and d4 with the queens on the board.
4...Bc5 – Black develops the bishop to c5, towards f2, exploiting the fact that White has not castled yet.
5.c3 – With the queen already on e2 defending e4, c3 prepares d4, which will chase the c5-bishop with a gain of tempo.
5...O-O – Black castles before d4 opens the centre: the king goes to safety and the f8-rook will support the defence of e5.
6.O-O – White castles before opening the centre.
6...d6 – After both sides have castled Black supports e5 with ...d6, so that d4 cannot win the pawn, and opens the diagonal of the c8-bishop.
7.d4 – With the queen on e2 and the king castled, d4 attacks the c5-bishop and puts two pawns in the centre against e5.
7...Bb6 – The bishop avoids capture on b6, from where it continues to press on d4 and on the diagonal towards f2 and g1.
8.Bg5 – The bishop pins the f6-knight to the queen. White increases the pressure on e5 and prepares d5 or Bxf6.

How to exploit the position

White has a good centre and the pin on the f6-knight; Black must decide how to free itself.

Push d5 to chase the c6-knight and gain space in the centre.
If Black does not release the pin, Bxf6 gxf6 ruins its kingside structure.
Complete development with Nbd2 and Rd1 to increase the pressure on e5 and d6.
If Black plays ...h6 and ...g5, the bishop retreats to g3 and Black's kingside stays weakened.

Master tips

Simple and effective development

With 4.Qe2 White defends e4 and takes the Berlin with ...Nxe4 away from Black.