Bishop's Opening: Lisitsyn Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C23, part of the Bishop's Opening family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 cxd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Ne2. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 15 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. Bc4 – White plays the bishop to c4
2... c6 – Black plays the pawn to c6
3. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
3... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
4. exd5 – White captures on d5 with the e-pawn
4... cxd5 – Black captures on d5 with the c-pawn
5. Bb5+ – White plays the bishop to b5, giving check
5... Bd7 – Black plays the bishop to d7
6. Bxd7+ – White takes on d7 with the bishop, giving check
6... Nxd7 – Black takes on d7 with the knight
The line goes on for 3 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Bishop's Opening
After 1.e4 e5, White plays 2.Bc4 at once, aiming at f7. White keeps options open for f4 or a quiet Italian-style game.
White often plays d3, Nf3, c3 and O-O, then pushes d4.
Black's best reply is 2...Nf6, attacking e4 right away.
Black can also hit back with ...d5 to gain time against the bishop.
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