Bishop's Opening: Pratt Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C23, part of the Bishop's Opening family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. exf6 dxc4 7. Qh5 O-O. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 14 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. 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... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
3. c3 – White plays the pawn to c3
3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
4. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
4... exd4 – Black captures on d4 with the e-pawn
5. e5 – White plays the pawn to e5
5... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
6. exf6 – White captures on f6 with the e-pawn
6... dxc4 – Black captures on c4 with the d-pawn
The line goes on for 2 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.
chessGM