Berlin endgame: 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 is variation 1 of 6 in the Berlin Defence course, a advanced opening course for Black (ECO C67). It runs 26 moves and begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 …. White wins the pawn back with d4 and dxe5, and the queens come off early. Black loses the right to castle but gets the two bishops. The king stays on e8, the knight sits on f5 and the h-pawn stops White's kingside. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre.
1... e5 – Black claims an equal share of the centre.
2. Nf3 – White develops and attacks the e5 pawn.
2... Nc6 – Black defends e5 and develops a knight.
3. Bb5 – The Ruy Lopez. The bishop attacks the knight that defends e5.
3... Nf6 – The Berlin Defence. Black develops and attacks the e4 pawn at once.
4. O-O – White castles and leaves e4 hanging. The rook or the d-pawn will win it back.
4... Nxe4 – Black takes the pawn. This is the main line of the Berlin.
5. d4 – White opens the centre. The e5 pawn is attacked, and the bishop can take on c6.
5... Nd6 – The best answer. The knight attacks the b5 bishop and gets out of danger.
6. Bxc6 – White trades the attacked bishop and doubles Black's c-pawns.
6... dxc6 – Black takes back toward the centre. Now both bishops have open lines.
7. dxe5 – White wins the pawn back and chases the d6 knight.
7... Nf5 – The knight's best square. From f5 it watches d4 and e7, and no pawn can chase it easily.
8. Qxd8+ – White trades queens. Black can no longer castle.
8... Kxd8 – Black takes back with the king. Without queens the king is safe in the centre.
The lesson goes on for 10 more moves, each with its explanation.
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