Bishop's Opening

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

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The Bishop's Opening is a chess opening that begins with the moves

1.e4 e5

2.Bc4

The Bishop's Opening is one of the oldest openings to be analyzed; it was studied by Lucena and Ruy Lopez. Later it was played by Philidor. Larsen was one of the few grandmasters to play it often, after first using it at the 1964 Interzonal Tournament. Although the Bishop's Opening is uncommon today, it has been used occasionally as a surprise by players such as Kasparov and Nunn.

White attacks Black's f7-square and prevents Black from advancing his d-pawn to d5. By ignoring the beginner's rule, "develop knights before bishops", White leaves his f-pawn unblocked allowing the possibility of playing f4. This gives the Bishop's Opening an affinity to the King's Gambit and the Vienna Game, two openings that share this characteristic. In fact, the Bishop's Opening can transpose into the King's Gambit or the Vienna Game, and transpositions into Giuoco Piano and Two Knights Defense and other openings are also possible. In particular, White should remain alert for any chance to transpose into a favorable variation of the King's Gambit, but with careful play Black can avoid this danger.

Weaver W. Adams in his classic work "White to Play and Win" claimed that the Bishop's Opening was a win for White by force from the second move. However, he was unable to prove this by defeating players stronger than himself.

Main variations

Because White's second move makes no direct threats, Black has many possible responses on the second move. As shown below, the Bishop's Opening offers opportunities to transpose to several other open games.

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings assigns Bishop's Opening the ECO codes C23 and C24.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4, Black's choice of a second move can be divided into three categories.

2...Nf6 (Berlin Defense)
2...Bc5 (Classical Defense)
2...other

Berlin Defense (2...Nf6)

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3.d3

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Ponziani's Gambit 3.d4

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Greco Gambit 3.f4

3.Nc3 (Vienna Game, by transposition)
3.d3
3.d4 (Ponziani's Gambit)
- 3...exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 (Center Game, by transposition)
- 3...exd4 4.Nf3 (Urusov Gambit)
  - 4...Bc5 5.0-0 Nc6 (Max Lange Attack, by transposition)
  - 4...Nc6 (Two Knights Defense, by transposition)
  - 4...Nxe4 5.Qxd4 (Urusov Gambit Accepted)
3.Nf3 (Petrov's Defense, by transposition)
- 3...Nxe4 4.Nc3 (Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit)
3.f4 (Greco Gambit)
- 3...Nxe4 4.d3 Nd6 5.Bb3 Nc6 or 5...e4
- 3...exf4 (King's Gambit, by transposition)

Probably Black's most popular second move is 2...Nf6, forcing White to decide how to defend his e-pawn. After 3.d3 Black must be careful not to drift into an inferior variation of the King's Gambit Declined. One continuation that avoids this pitfall is 2...Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bd6. Also possible is 3...d6 (instead of 3...c6) 4.f4 exf4 5.Bxf4 Be6! neutralizing White's king bishop.

White sometimes chooses the Bishop's Opening move order to transpose into the Giuoco Piano while preventing Black from playing Petrov's Defense. For example, 2...Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 reaches the quiet Giuoco Pianissimo.

The Urusov Gambit is named after Russian Prince Sergey Semyonovich Urusov (August 3 1827–November 20 1897). Black can decline the Urusov Gambit and transpose into the Two Knights Defense with 2...Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6. If Black accepts the gambit, White gets some initiative, e.g. 4...Nxe4 5.Qxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bg5, typically followed by 0-0-0.

The Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit was suggested by Lionel Kieseritzky in 1848. English player and chess writer Samuel Boden published the first analysis of it in 1851. Opening theoreticians consider that after 2...Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 f6, White's attack is not quite worth a pawn. The game may continue 6.0-0 Nc6 (not 6...Be7? 7.Nxe5! with a tremendous attack, but 6...d6 is also playable) 7.Nh4 g6 8.f4 f5 9.Nf3 (9.Nxf5? d5!) e4 10.Ng5 (10.Ne5 Qe7! threatening Qc5+ is strong) Bc5+. In practice, Black's lack of development and inability to castle kingside can prove very problematic. Safer for Black are Morphy's solid 5...c6 6.Nxe5 d5, returning the pawn with equality, and 4...Nc6!? (instead of 4...Nxc3) 5.0-0 (5.Nxe4 d5) Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qe7, and if 7.Ng5, Nd8, as recommended by Fischer in My 60 Memorable Games. Black can also decline the pawn with 3...Nc6, transposing into the Two Knights Defense. He must, however, be willing to offer a gambit himself after 4.Ng5.

Classical Defense (2...Bc5)

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Wing Gambit 3.b4

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Philidor Variation 3.c3

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3.d3

3.b4 (Wing Gambit)
3.c3 (Philidor Variation)
- 3...d5 (Lewis Countergambit)
- 3...d6
- 3...Nf6
3.Nc3 (Vienna Game, by transposition)
3.d3
3.Nf3 (Giuoco Piano, by transposition)
3.Qg4 (Vienna Game, by transposition)

The Classical Defense is Black's symmetrical response, 2...Bc5. White can then transpose into the Vienna Game (3.Nc3) or the Giuoco Piano (3.Nf3), or remain in the Bishop's Opening with the Wing Gambit (3.b4) or the Philidor Variation (3.c3). Transpositions into the King's Gambit Declined and the Giuoco Piano are also possible after 3.d3.

The Wing Gambit results in positions similar to those in the Evans Gambit. It can transpose into the Evans Gambit, for instance by 2...Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.c3 Ba5 5.Nf3 Nc6.

Black's most energetic response to the Philidor Variation is the Lewis Countergambit, 2...Bc5 3.c3 d5, named for the English player and author William Lewis (1787–1870), who published analysis of the line in 1834.

Other Black second moves

2...c6 (Philidor Counterattack)
2...Nc6
2...d6
2...f5?! (Calabrian Countergambit)
- 3.d3 (Jaenisch Variation)

Other Black second moves are rarely played. If Black tries to transpose into the Hungarian Defense with 2...Be7?, then 3.Qh5 wins a pawn.

The Calabrian Countergambit (2...f5?!) is named after Greco's homeland, Calabria. It is considered dubious as the line recommended by Carl Jaenisch, 3.d3 Nf6 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3, gives White the advantage.

References

Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion To Chess. Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
Lane, Gary (2004). The Bishop's Opening Explained. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-8917-0.

Books

White to Play and Win ISBN 978-0-923891-83-1

External links

Goeller, Michael. The Bishop's Opening.
Harding, Tim (August 1998). The Kibitzer: What Exactly is the Bishop's Opening?. ChessCafe.com.
Harding, Tim (September 1998). The Kibitzer: The Eternal Appeal Of The Urusov Gambit. ChessCafe.com.
Harding, Tim (October 1998). The Kibitzer: Is the Urusov Gambit Sound?. ChessCafe.com.
Bishop's Opening in Opening Theory section of Chess Wikibook