26. Anti-Berlin: Exchange on c6 and Control of c4
White plays 4.d3 Bc5 and then exchanges 5.Bxc6 dxc6. Unlike the classical Exchange Variation, here the queens stay on the board and White has a clear manoeuvring plan with Nbd2-c4.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.O-O Nd7 8.Nb3 Bb6 9.Ng5 Bxb3 10.axb3 f6 11.Nf3 Nc5 12.Nd2
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.Bxc6 – White exchanges the bishop to ruin Black's structure. After ...dxc6, the e5 pawn is not immediately en prise: Nxe5 would be met by ...Qd4, attacking e5 and f2.
- 5...dxc6 – Recaptures towards the outside to open the d-file and the diagonal of the c8-bishop. Now ...Qd4 is a theme to keep an eye on.
- 6.Nbd2 – The knight goes to d2 in order to jump to b3 or c4, from where it will attack the c5-bishop or the e5 pawn. It does not take on e5, to avoid ...Qd4.
- 6...Be6 – Develops the bishop controlling c4 and b3, the squares the d2-knight is heading for.
- 7.O-O – White castles: now Nxe5 will no longer suffer ...Qd4 with a double attack on f2 and the king.
- 7...Nd7 – Defends e5 in advance and frees the f-pawn for ...f6. The knight can then jump to c5.
- 8.Nb3 – The knight attacks the c5-bishop with tempo and controls d4 and a5.
- 8...Bb6 – The bishop retreats to b6, staying on the diagonal towards f2.
- 9.Ng5 – The knight attacks the e6-bishop to obtain the bishop pair.
- 9...Bxb3 – Black exchanges the bishop on b3 instead of letting it be taken: in return White will have doubled b-pawns, but the a-file opens.
- 10.axb3 – Recaptures with the a-pawn towards the centre: the b-pawns are doubled, but the a1-rook immediately attacks the a7 pawn.
- 10...f6 – Chases the g5-knight and reinforces e5. Black accepts a very solid structure with pawns on c6, e5 and f6.
- 11.Nf3 – The knight retreats to f3, where it still attacks e5.
- 11...Nc5 – The knight goes to c5, from where it attacks b3 and d3 and covers e4.
- 12.Nd2 – The knight repositions on d2: it prepares Nc4 to exchange the b6-bishop and frees the f-pawn for the f4 push against e5.
How to exploit the position
Asymmetrical structure: Black has doubled but solid c-pawns and the active b6-bishop; White has doubled b-pawns and a half-open a-file.
- Push f4 to attack e5 and open the f-file against the f6 pawn.
- Play Nc4 to exchange the b6-bishop, Black's most active piece.
- Use the a-file: Ra1 presses on a7 and a b4 push can chase the c5-knight.
- Without the light-squared bishops, the endgame with the better structure is a goal for White.
Master tips
Don't take on e5 too early
After 5.Bxc6 dxc6 the f3-knight must not take on e5 at once: 6.Nxe5? Qd4 attacks e5 and f2 together.