chessgames.com
Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense (C65)
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6

Number of games in database: 1207
Years covered: 1840 to 2010
Overall record:
   White wins 37.1%
   Black wins 27.7%
   Draws 35.2%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Berthold Englisch  19 games
Oldrich Duras  14 games
Blackburne  13 games
Adolf Anderssen  24 games
Emanuel Lasker  24 games
Johannes Zukertort  22 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Steinitz vs Chigorin, 1892
Morphy vs Anderssen, 1858
Capablanca vs O Bernstein, 1911
Marshall vs Lasker, 1907
Blackburne vs Max Weiss, 1889
Anderssen vs Steinitz, 1866
<< previous chapter next chapter >>

 page 1 of 49; games 1-25 of 1,207  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. Von Der Lasa vs Hanstein  0-133 1840 BerlinC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
2. Mayet vs Harrwitz  0-122 1847 Berlin mC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
3. Wallenrath vs Jaenisch ½-½54 1850 St PetersburgC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
4. E Williams vs Staunton 0-161 1851 08, LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
5. Szen vs Horwitz  1-038 1851 4, London3 m3C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
6. H Kennedy vs Szen  0-130 1851 3, London4 m3C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
7. Bird vs Anderssen 1-044 1851 LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
8. Mayet vs Anderssen 1-053 1851 BerlinC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
9. Lowenthal vs Anderssen 0-130 1851 LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
10. Bird vs Horwitz 1-029 1851 Londen mC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
11. Bird vs Horwitz 1-059 1851 LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
12. Jaenisch vs Staunton  0-142 1851 London m4C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
13. Lowenthal vs Harrwitz 1-059 1853 LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
14. Staunton vs Von Der Lasa 0-127 1853 MatchC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
15. Staunton vs Von Der Lasa  ½-½69 1853 MatchC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
16. Zytogorski vs R Brien  0-127 1855 Kling's Coffee HouseC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
17. Cochrane vs Mohishunder  ½-½41 1855 CalcuttaC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
18. Bird vs Anderssen 1-038 1857 LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
19. A Meek vs Morphy 0-129 1857 New YorkC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
20. Morphy vs Anderssen 1-021 1858 ParisC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
21. T W Barnes vs Morphy 0-140 1858 London m1C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
22. G Medley vs Morphy 0-125 1858 LondonC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
23. Carstanjen vs Anderssen  0-136 1859 CologneC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
24. A Carstanjen vs Anderssen  1-030 1859 CologneC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
25. Max Lange vs Anderssen  0-145 1859 BreslauC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
 page 1 of 49; games 1-25 of 1,207  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  
 

Secrets of Opening Surprises

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing >
May-29-05   Sydro: What If 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Ne4 6. O-O a6

What should white do then? Seems like either pieces will be traded or the position will be closed.

May-29-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  acirce: People should get rid of the primitive prejudice that a queen exchange automatically makes the position less likely to win. The position after <4. d4 Nxe4 5. dxe5 d5 6. Nd4 Bd7> is considered unproblematic for Black while the main line Berlin does give White an edge although not easy to exploit. 4.d4 *is* an interesting way to avoid the usual kind of games after 3..Nf6 though.
Jul-26-05   Eric6312: There's a move in the Classical variation of this that is driving me nuts! After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nc6 4. 0-0 Bc5 5. c3 Nxe4 What is white's best move? Much to my frustration, the opening explorer ends one move too soon.
Jul-26-05   e4Newman: <1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nc6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.c3 Nxe4>

6.d4 is the only move I know of. Look at white's f-pawn...double attacked! And, d4 is a strategic objective in KP games. Here it forks black's bishop and e-pawn.

Although, white is left with an isolated QP after 6...exd4 7.cxd4, and black still has the extra pawn.

Jul-26-05   e4Newman: <Eric6312:> After looking through my database, and that of chessgames.com, it appears you may need to try this one out.

John Emms claims 5...Nxe4!? "...but no convincing refutation has been found."

He claims the initiative gained by 6.d4 is strong, but continues by suggesting the untested 6.Qe2!? Bxf2+! 7.Kh1! (7.Rxf2 Nxf2 8.Kxf2 f6) d5 8.c4!? 0-0 9.cxd5 Nd4 10.Qxe4 (not 10.Nxd4 Qh4!) Bf5 11.Qxe5 f6 12.Qf4 g5 13.Nxd4 gxf4 14.Nxf5 Bb6 15.d4

I think he may have been drunk.

Jul-27-05   Eric6312: Thanks Newman! I don't know if I trust Qe2. Isn't it interesting that no convincing refutation has been found to what seems to be such a natural move? I usually go with d4 here, but after the exchange, your right, White has an IQP, is one pawn down, and doesn't really have any compensation. Maybe instead of 5. c3 White should play either 5. Nc3 and go into the 4Knights or play 5. Nxe5 with the d4 fork to follow. Since 5. c3 seems to be the advice most give, I really wish I had an answer to 5...Nxe4!
Jul-29-05   Holden: <1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nc6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.c3 Nxe4>

6. d4 exd4 7. Re1 and black can save the knight but there are plenty of ways for black to lose.

White's still down a pawn though.

Jul-29-05   Eric6312: Yes Holden! I think 7. Re1 is the key I missed. Thanks!
Jul-31-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  who: <Eric6312> see Alekhine vs Desai RE, 1933
Jul-31-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  who: <e4Newman> Fritz gives 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5 5.c3 Nxe4 6.Qe2 Bxf2+ 7.Kh1 d5 8.d3 Ng3+ 9.hxg3 Bxg3 as better for white.

After 6.Qe2!? Bxf2+! 7.Kh1! (7.Rxf2 Nxf2 8.Kxf2 f6) d5 8.c4!? it suggests 8...Bb6 as about equal. After 8...0-0 9.cxd5 it suggest 9...Ng3. After that Fritz is o.k. with all the moves played and gives the final position an evaluation of 2.32

Nov-14-05   Kriegspiel: <acirce> I went looking for the C65 game(s) your Kramnik quote refers to, and couldn't find any in the database. Turns out they are misclassified C67. For example, see:

Kasparov vs Kramnik, 2000

Kriegspiel

Feb-04-06   hamworld: here's a game of mine is 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. Rd1+ Ke8 equal?
Feb-04-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: <hamworld> Yes, that line seems very even for both sides, although White has a slim edge statistically = Opening Explorer Note the Kasparov-Kramnik games in London, 2000 went 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. b3 h6 for Game 1 Kasparov vs Kramnik, 2000 & Game 3 Kasparov vs Kramnik, 2000, then 9. Nc3 h6 10. Rd1+ Ke8 for Game 9 Kasparov vs Kramnik, 2000, then 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Ke8 for Game 13 Kasparov vs Kramnik, 2000
Apr-03-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gypsy: <hamworld> Here is what Bronstein thinks about the position: Pilnik vs Bronstein, 1956
Apr-03-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  refutor: i'm surprised kasparov didn't try 9.Rd1+ v. kramnik...j.polgar has played 9.Rd1+ over the years
Jul-29-06   Ness: Lets say 4. O-O Bc5 how should white continue?
Sep-28-06   ongyj: After years of my previous post on this page I'm back again! I'd like to seek opinion of everyone on this continuation of the Berlin Wall defence. 4.d3 Bc5(Pretending Black's e pawn falls but in reality it doesn't. If I don't remember wrongly I think Topalov used it against Anand in the tournament he was crowned? Or was it the other way round?) 5.c3 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ and Now White can "play safe with 8.Bd2" or try the interesting looking 8.Kf1!? All criticisms greatly appreciated.
Oct-03-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Is cg.com trying to give Topalov and Kramnik a hint by picking this for OOTD?
Jan-11-07   Bobak Zahmat: <keypusher> Like expected Topalov didn't test Kramnik's Berlin Wall, because that would be just a waste of time.
Feb-13-07   druby: Maybe kasparov should have tried the nimzo larsen attack.
Jul-27-07   melianis: Looking at the statistics of the opening (closed berlin (Bc5)), it seems like <10.Nbd2 is a very good move.
Jan-17-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  blacksburg: Opening of the Day!

the best thing about playing the Berlin is that you get to study Lasker's games. :)

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

Jan-17-09   LaFreaK: search "WESLEY SO-NI HUA"
May-18-09   spirosgr: How about
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4. c3!?
i cant find any games starting like this though
Jul-24-09   WhiteRook48: that's because 4 c3 isn't attacking
Jump directly to page #    (enter number from 1 to 3)
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing >
NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!
If you already have an account, you should login now.
Please observe our posting guidelines:
  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
  3. No personal attacks against other users.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
Blow the Whistle See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.


NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific opening and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.
Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.


home | about | login | logout | F.A.Q. | your profile | preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | new kibitzing | chessforums | new games | Player Directory | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Little ChessPartner | privacy notice | contact us
Copyright 2001-2009, Chessgames.com
Web design & database development by 20/20 Technologies