Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Berlin Defence
Black answers the Ruy Lopez with 3...Nf6; learn the Berlin endgame, its plans, and the quieter 4.d3.
The idea
Black plays 3...Nf6 and heads for a solid ending without queens.
- After the queens come off, Black’s king stays on d8.
- The pawns on the c-file are doubled, which is the price.
- In return Black has the two bishops on an open board.
In a game: When White castles and Black takes on e4, expect d4 and a queen trade within a few moves.
How the lesson begins
The Berlin Defence is 3...Nf6. Black does not chase the bishop with ...a6, and does not guard the pawn on e5 with ...d6. The knight attacks the pawn on e4 instead, and nothing defends that pawn.
In Lichess games where the players’ average rating was 2000 or more, 30 in 100 games after 3...Nf6 were drawn, against 12 in 100 of all their Ruy Lopez games, the Berlin included. This lesson looks at two replies for White: 4.O-O and the quieter 4.d3.
After 4.O-O Black may take the pawn on e4. Follow the main line: White opens the centre and wins the pawn back on move 7.
- 4. O-O White castles and leaves the pawn on e4 to be taken.
- 4... Nxe4 Black takes it.
- 5. d4 White opens the centre and attacks the pawn on e5.
- 5... Nd6 The knight retreats and attacks the bishop on b5.
Find the move
White to move. The knight on d6 attacks your bishop on b5. Take on c6 first.
A hint
Your bishop on b5 can take a knight.
Show the answer
6. Bxc6 dxc6
6.Bxc6 dxc6 leaves Black with doubled pawns on the c-file, on c7 and c6. White has given up a bishop for a knight, so Black now owns the two bishops, but the pawns are the price.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | 4.7 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 4 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 2.6 |
| 2000 and up | 4.2 |
How the games ended
White won 50%, 8% were drawn and Black won 43%, over 6,622 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.