Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Nf6/4. O-O/4...Nxe4

Open Berlin Berlin defence 4...Nxe4 · Open Berlin Black takes the hanging e4 pawn. This is a trade more than a gambit as White can recover the pawn easily enough using the semi-open e-file. One line is 5. Re1, recovering the pawn after the knight is forced to move. One of the reasons this works is because Black's king is still in the centre: 5...Nd6 (threatens to take White's bishop) 6. Nxe5 and Black is not in time to capture the bishop: 6...Nxb5? 7. Nxc6+ discovered check wins White the queen. If 6...Nxe5 7. Rxe5+ Be7 and White can evacuate the bishop. 6...Be7 closes the e-file but gives White time to play 7. Bf1. 5. Re1 is very drawish, and 5. d4 is actually the main line (although as this is the Berlin, 5. d4 is pretty drawish too, and usually leads to the Berlin Wall endgame). 5...exd4? opens the e-file and lets 6. Re1 pin-and-win Black's knight, so the main reply is 5...Nd6. Theory table . 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5 Re1... = d4... = References See also Berlin Defence