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Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence, 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O

Svidler–Ivanchuk, FIDE Grand Prix Sochi 2008 · Carlsen–Kramnik, Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2015 · 6:04 · ECO C65

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In this video

Game 1: Peter Svidler (2738) vs Vassily Ivanchuk (2781)

FIDE Grand Prix Sochi 2008, 8 August 2008 · Black won (0-1) · 25 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 line0:29
  2. 16.gxf3The queens come off1:09
  3. 21.Rd1The evaluation moves from −1.16 to −1.981:34
  4. 22.fxe4Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:39
  5. 25...f5Black wins after 25 moves1:56

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Magnus Carlsen (2863) vs Vladimir Kramnik (2783)

Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2015, 24 April 2015 · White won (1-0) · 49 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.O-OThe first move after the opening line2:25
  2. 22...Qxc6The evaluation moves from +0.65 to +2.68, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:38
  3. 41.Qb7The evaluation moves from +3.54 to +5.175:10
  4. 47...gxf5The evaluation moves from +4.10 to mate in 7 for White5:42
  5. 49.g5White wins after 49 moves5:50

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 sidesteps the Berlin endgame and keeps a slow Italian-style centre, while Black's 4...Bc5 aims at f2. The move 5.c3 prepares a later d4 that will hit the c5-bishop, and Black's 5...O-O completes kingside development before deciding where to put the d-pawn. The usual structure is an e4/e5 centre that White tries to open with d4.

Svidler–Ivanchuk began with 6.Bg5, pinning the f6-knight. Black broke the pin with ...h6 and ...g5, then hunted the bishop with 9...Nh5. White gave up the other bishop with 10.Bxc6 and opened the centre with 11.d4, but after 12...Nxg3 Black held the bishop pair against two knights. White's pawns were doubled after 13.hxg3, and the queens came off with 16.gxf3, giving more doubled pawns. The score went from −0.21 at 15...Qxf3 to −1.16 at 20...Rad8 once Black prepared ...d5. After 22.fxe4 Black stayed more than two pawns ahead, won the f5-pawn with 23...Rxf5 and reached −3.41 at 25...f5. Black won.

Carlsen–Kramnik followed the main plan, 6.O-O and 7.h3 before 8.d4, taking the centre without the pin. The centre opened after 10...dxe4 and stayed level, +0.20 at that move. The turning point was 22...Qxc6, which moved the score from +0.65 to +2.68. After 23.Bxd5 and the exchanges that followed, White had a queen against rook and bishop. White won the a-pawn with 33.Qxa7 and marched the king forward. The score rose to +5.17 at 41.Qb7 and to mate in 7 after 47...gxf5. White won after 49.g5.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Svidler vs Ivanchuk, FIDE Grand Prix Sochi 2008
  3. 2:05Game 2: Carlsen vs Kramnik, Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2015

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O

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