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Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence, 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6

Carlsen–Caruana, Zurich Chess Challenge 2014 · Nisipeanu–Radjabov, Dortmund 2019 · 7:08 · ECO C65

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In this video

Game 1: Magnus Carlsen (2872) vs Fabiano Caruana (2782)

Zurich Chess Challenge 2014, 2 February 2014 · White won (1-0) · 47 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.h3The first move after the opening line0:29
  2. 33...Rc8White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:36
  3. 37...Re8The evaluation moves from +3.01 to +4.262:56
  4. 39...Kc8The evaluation moves from +4.95 to +7.093:06
  5. 47.Qc8+White wins after 47 moves3:44

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (2672) vs Teimour Radjabov (2759)

Dortmund 2019, 14 July 2019 · Black won (0-1) · 40 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.Bg5The first move after the opening line4:12
  2. 23.c4The evaluation moves from −0.20 to −2.245:28
  3. 28...Bb4The evaluation moves from −3.95 to −2.335:55
  4. 33.h4The evaluation moves from −1.31 to −3.00, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here6:18
  5. 40...Rxd3Black wins after 40 moves6:55

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 4.d3 White avoids the sharp lines of the Berlin and keeps a slow, solid centre, and Black answers by putting the bishop actively on c5. With 5.Bxc6 dxc6 White gives up the bishop pair to leave Black with doubled c-pawns. Black gets open lines and two bishops, while White aims for a healthy kingside majority and the f4 break.

Carlsen–Caruana followed the slow route with 6.h3, 7.Be3 and 8.Nc3, while Caruana rerouted the knight via f8 to g6. Carlsen traded knight for bishop with 13.Nxd6+, played 14.f4 and opened the f-file. After 20...O-O-O at +0.79, White gave a rook for bishop and pawn with 22.Rxf7 and 23.Rxf7, then took on d5 to create a passed d-pawn, reaching +1.85 by 25...g6. After 33...Rc8 the score rose from +1.13 to +2.74, and after 38...Kb7 it went from +3.56 to +4.97. The d-pawn reached d7, and White won after 47.Qc8+.

Nisipeanu–Radjabov took a different route with 6.Bg5 and 16.Nh4, trading knight for bishop with 17.Nxg6. Radjabov expanded on the queenside with ...b5 and ...a5 instead of defending passively. White's 23.c4 opened that wing and the score dropped from −0.20 to −2.24. After 28...Bb4 it eased from −3.95 to −2.33, but 33.h4 moved it from −1.31 to −3.00. Black's rooks broke through and Black won after 40...Rxd3 at −5.90.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Carlsen vs Caruana, Zurich Chess Challenge 2014
  3. 3:53Game 2: Nisipeanu vs Radjabov, Dortmund 2019

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6

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