Key ideas
- The Berlin Defense, 2...Nf6, attacks e4 at once. White usually defends it with 3.d3, heading for a quiet Italian-style game, or gambits with 3.d4, which after 3...exd4 4.Nf3 becomes the Urusov Gambit.
- Against 2...Bc5, the Boi Variation, White can prepare d4 with 3.c3 (the Philidor Variation) or protect e4 with 3.Qe2 (the Lopez Variation) and keep f4 in reserve.
- Because the knight is not yet on f3, White can push the f-pawn, as in the Greco Gambit 2...Nf6 3.f4. With an early Nc3, the game becomes a Vienna Hybrid.
- The quiet lines with d3 lead to slow manoeuvring structures, with c3, Nbd2 or Nc3, and a later d4 or f4 break.
Plans for White
Develop with d3, Nf3 or Ne2, c3 and short castling, and keep f4 as an option. The bishop often drops back to b3 so that ...d5 or ...Na5 does not gain time against it.
Plans for Black
A simple plan is 2...Nf6 followed by ...c6 and ...d5, using the exposed bishop on c4 as a target for a central pawn advance. Developing with ...Nc6 and ...Bc5 is also sound.
Watch out
The Bishop's Opening shares its first moves with Scholar's Mate: 2...Nc6 3.Qh5 Nf6?? 4.Qxf7#. Black should defend f7 with 3...Qe7, or with 3...g6 4.Qf3 Nf6.