Openings 1.e4 e5: open games
Berlin Defense: Berlin Endgame, Anti-Berlin and Stats by Rating
3...Nf6 counterattacks e4 instead of asking the bishop a question with ...a6. Kramnik used it to beat Kasparov in their 2000 world title match, and since then it has been one of the most solid answers to the Ruy Lopez. At 2000+ about one in four of our Berlin games is drawn.
C65Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
Games from this position (1600–1999): 19k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46% | 8,920 | ||
| 24% | 4,549 | ||
| 15% | 2,989 | ||
| 11% | 2,155 | ||
| 1% | 244 | ||
| 1% | 203 | ||
| 1% | 201 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 4.O-O is the main move: after 4...Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 you reach the Berlin endgame.
- 4.d3 (the Anti-Berlin) avoids the endgame and keeps pieces on, aiming for a slow Ruy-style middlegame.
- 5.Re1 after 4.O-O Nxe4 is another way to avoid the endgame: White wins the pawn back and keeps queens on.
Black
- In the Berlin endgame Black has lost castling but has the bishop pair and a solid structure. Bring the king to e8 or c7 and coordinate the rooks.
- Against 4.d3, play ...Bc5 or ...d6 with a normal Ruy Lopez setup, often with ...Ne7 and ...Ng6.
- Against 4.O-O the main line is 4...Nxe4: after 5.d4 drop the knight to d6 instead of holding on to the pawn. Against 4.d3, e4 is protected, so just develop.
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Berlin Defense at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 18k0.6% | 4.Bxc635% | |
| 1200–1599 | 28k0.5% | 4.Bxc631% | |
| 1600–1999 | 19k0.3% | 4.O-O46% | |
| 2000+ | 10k0.5% | 4.O-O60% | |
| All | 75k0.4% | 4.O-O35% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Queens come off on move 8. White has the better pawn majority on the kingside; Black has the bishops and a very solid position.
1,472 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 20%, 51% were drawn, Black won 29%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8White keeps e4 protected and plays a slow game with c3, O-O, Re1 and Nbd2.
136 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 13% were drawn, Black won 38%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6White regains the pawn with Nxe5 and keeps queens on; Black untangles with ...O-O and ...Nxe5.
1,133 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 19%, 61% were drawn, Black won 20%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1Black develops the bishop instead of taking on e4. White usually plays c3 and d4.
11k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 54%, 4% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Bc5
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At club level
Below 1200 the most common reply is 4.Bxc6, which gives up the bishop for nothing special. At 2000+ six in ten play 4.O-O and three in ten 4.d3, and over half of the full Berlin endgames are drawn.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- King’s Pawn Game: 1.e4 e5
1.e4 e5
- King’s Knight Opening: 2.Nf3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
- Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
- Bishop’s Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
- Philidor Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
- Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4