24. Modern Anti-Berlin with 4.d3 (the Carlsen Weapon)
The move 4.d3 completely avoids the Berlin endgame. White defends e4, keeps the queens on the board and manoeuvres as in a Closed Ruy Lopez with c3, Nbd2 and Ba4-Bc2.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nbd2 a6 8.Ba4 Ba7 9.h3 Ne7 10.Re1 Ng6 11.Nf1 c6 12.Ng3 d5
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.d3 – White defends e4 with a pawn and avoids the Berlin endgame. The game becomes slow and manoeuvring, with the queens on the board.
- 4...Bc5 – The bishop goes to the a7-g1 diagonal, from where it aims at f2. It is the most active development against 4.d3.
- 5.c3 – Prepares d4 with tempo on the c5-bishop and gives the b5-bishop the retreat to a4 and c2.
- 5...O-O – Black castles: if d4 now, the bishop retreats to b6 without harm.
- 6.O-O – White castles and completes the king's safety before choosing the central plan.
- 6...d6 – Supports e5 and frees the c8-bishop. The structure recalls the Closed Ruy Lopez, but with the black bishop on c5.
- 7.Nbd2 – The knight begins the Nbd2-f1-g3 manoeuvre and meanwhile defends e4.
- 7...a6 – Asks the bishop to decide: exchange on c6 or retreat to a4 keeping the pressure.
- 8.Ba4 – The bishop retreats to a4 in order to return to c2, where it will defend e4 and look towards the black king.
- 8...Ba7 – The bishop retreats to a7 before d4 or b4 attack it. From here it stays on the diagonal towards f2.
- 9.h3 – Prophylaxis: it prevents ...Bg4 and ...Ng4 and prepares Re1 and the knight's manoeuvre towards g3.
- 9...Ne7 – The knight leaves c6 to go to g6, on the kingside. It also frees the c-pawn for ...c6 and ...d5.
- 10.Re1 – With the black bishop on a7 the rook defends e4 from the e-file and leaves the f1 square free, from which the d2-knight will continue towards g3.
- 10...Ng6 – The knight arrives on g6, from where it controls f4 and h4 and defends the king.
- 11.Nf1 – The knight continues towards g3, from where it will aim at f5 and h5.
- 11...c6 – Prepares ...d5 and closes the diagonal of the a4-bishop towards e8.
- 12.Ng3 – The knight arrives on g3: it controls f5 and h5 and supports e4.
- 12...d5 – A central break: Black challenges e4 and frees its game. White must decide whether to keep the tension or exchange on d5.
How to exploit the position
Balanced, manoeuvring position: Black has freed its game with ...d5 and has the active bishop on a7, White has the knights ready for the kingside.
- Play Be3 to exchange the a7-bishop, Black's most active piece, and take the pressure off f2.
- Bring the bishop to c2 or b3 to support e4 and press on d5.
- Use the f5 square with Nf5 when Black cannot exchange the knight without concessions.
- If the centre opens with ...dxe4 dxe4, the d-file becomes important: occupy it with Qe2 and Rad1.
Master tips
Avoiding the Berlin endgame
With 4.d3 White defends e4 and keeps the queens on the board, playing a manoeuvring game similar to the Closed Ruy Lopez.