ECO C24 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. d3−0.05

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense (C24), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d3 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.05).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.053. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bd6 7. exd5 cxd5
  2. −0.073. Nc3 Nc6 4. d3 Na5 5. Bb3 Nxb3 6. axb3 d5 7. Nf3 dxe4
  3. −0.263. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. c3 dxc3 6. bxc3 d5 7. exd5 Be7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d3 for White, continuing c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bd6 7. exd5 cxd5. The position is roughly equal (−0.05). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (−0.07) and 3. d4 (−0.26).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.05: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense?
C24. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).