It's been virtually delivered, Tim, and should therefore be out in about three months, I imagine.

I'm not sure delays are too important theorywise at all, since developments can usually be incorporated. I realise they're frustrating sometimes, but I don't think they affect the product muct at all.

Here is the original thread. It's in the endgame section 

http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1201632403/15

The contents of the thread, provides some extra information on the manner in which I approached this endgame, why the positions in the pgn-file were selected and about the connection with John's forthcoming book.
(the original pgn-file was in the last message of this thread).

IMJohnCox wrote on 05/20/08 at 17:52:36:


Good explanation! In the source, http://www.chess.gr/tourn/2000/kasparov-kramnik/analysis.html,
given by trw the annotator says "Black may exchange his black-squared B for a N and thus provoke an endgame with opposite-color Bs, with clear drawing tendencies." Is this one plan or the only plan? Would it be possible to play like I have done so far (trying to trade down to bishops vs. knights) or is this just wishful play that do not work in OTB against strong opponents? As for your book, trust me that I will buy it as soon as it comes out!

Trw, thanks for the great resources. I have started to use a lot of it!4.d3, Qe2, Nc3 are completely different openings but I still believe I can play them without too much knowledge. 

And I agree, the master you played against played quite strange... not only Rxe7 but other moves too.

Gerbarts wrote on 03/28/08 at 14:23:54:



Yes, the kramnik games are still good to study. I recommend if you can finding a way to get Kramnik's my path to the top DVD where he talks about the Berlin in detail. Also a good website that has some analysis on these games: http://www.chess.gr/tourn/2000/kasparov-kramnik/analysis.html

Also I have a pgn collection on chessgames.com of the games I studiedi n the last 10 months to learn the Berlin: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1012881

Kramnik, Topalov, Radjabov, Sargissian, Bacrot and Wang Yue have been playing the Berlin recently so watch for them to bust it out again. Even Short played it in Corus Group B this year. Carlsen played it both in linares against Ivanchuk and faced it against Aronian in Amber this year. There is no lack of master games to study on this opening. Bisguier and Aleksandrov seem to employ almost religiously My personal favorite master to watch is Leonid Kritz, recently crowned GM, who seems to play my exact opening style with Slav and Berlin defenses.  He tends to have very creative approach to most openings. 

Lines I recommend you be familiar with and have prep for people that try to decline the Berlin because they are common: 4. d3 4. Qe2 4. Nc3

Acceptance lines to be aware of 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 (6. Nxe5 seems to be very common in blitz! also be careful of 6. Bg5 is a line whose intention is to keep the queens on the board. Either f6 or Be7 is fine here. also be aware of 6. dxe5 Nxb6 7. a4 (regaining the knigh) Nbd4 8Nxd4 Nxd4 9 Qxd4 d5) but also know the line where white attempts to keep Qs on board via Qe2. 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qe2 Nd4 9 Nxd4 Qxd4 10.   Rd1 Bg4! 11 Rxd4 Bxe2 12 Nc3


I often as John Cox suggested trade my dark square bishop (though with certain dismay as I enjoy holding the bishop pair) because it can be a clumsy piece. I will head for a light square bishop vs knight ending where I hope to have the bishop become superior. 

I've had some strange games on ICC with masters in the Berlin: notably one where the master decided on an exchange sac right in the opening (which I found unsound!). 
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. Rxe5+ Be7 8. d4 f6 9. Rxe7+ Qxe7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Nc3 Re8 12. Be3 c6 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qf3 Nf7 15. h3 d5 16. Ne2 Nd6 17. Nf4 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Nh5 Kf7 20. Kh1 Nxe3 21. fxe3 gxh5 22. Qxh5+ Kg8 23. Rf1 Rad8 24. Qh6 Qg7 0-1

Finally if you have an ICC account LarryC's round 5 video of Baku is a good video on the Berlin to watch.

and of course be pumped and ready for John Cox's book!!

I hope this helps some... good luck to you in the Berlin. I enjoy this opening immensely!

IMJohnCox wrote on 05/16/08 at 19:42:13:


Since I made this thread I have learnt a lot about the Berlin and I feel like I'm getting easy wins against most players under 1800 on ICC. My strategy has been very simple; my first plan in the opening is to play Be7 and Nh4 and exchange knights. Then I try to exchange rooks and open the position for my bishops. 

What you say about trading the dark squared bishop I did not know at all. What is the reasoning behind it being a bad piece? I personally feel many times that it is a problem since it restricts my king from going to e7 but at the same time I always hope that it will become a good piece later which is why I avoid trading it.

I know my understandning of the Berlin is still pretty retarded but I am still learning a lot. I still play the Chigorin in OTB but that will soon change I think.

Thanks Tim, Ke8 it is. I've decided to keep on playing the Berlin after a few wins with it in blitz. 

Are Kasparov-Kramnik games still relevant to study or what are the latest games that have been played in the Berlin against super masters?

MarinFan wrote on 03/25/08 at 11:43:56:


Completely agree, there is no logic to it if you are to exchange bishops. If Be7 is the best then I would decide not to continue playing the Berlin.

TimS wrote on 03/21/08 at 15:40:01:




I think the Berlin is not usually played for winning chances as Black.  It's reputation of being the illigitimate cousin of the Petroff is well deserved.

I think the Open Systems and even the Main lines of the Spanish afford solid play with the chance to create winning chances in the game.

TimS wrote on 03/21/08 at 13:40:06:


Maybe I'm playing the wrong defense if I want to win ( ? ). Thing is my opponent in this game was a lot lower rated than myself and still I did not manage to win on the board at any time.

If I play the Berlin OTB I will have to know a little more theory than I know now since most of my opponents are above 2000 FIDE. How is the theory on the Berlin, are there winning chances for black?

In your diagrammed position you can always exchange the bishop and get an opposite bishops ending (one of the main advantages of the bishop pair in he endgame is this ability).

Secondly it may have been better to go g5 after h6 (ie 12..g5) followed by moves like Bc5 and maybe even Bd5. Try playing it out on the board and you'll see that white's pieces start hindering each other (in particular the light pieces). Ie 12.Bf4 g5 13.Bg3 Bc5 14.Nbd2 g4 
Just cause you play the Berlin doesnt mean you should wait passively and rely on the bishops to win on their own.

Thanks TimS!

Here is the diagram

It seems strange to me to exchange my bishop pair especially since it is blacks only resource. Maybe someone else can shed some light on this... I feel confused now

I'll have to check out the book. Generally it seems that the Berlin is very much understanding.

Keep the ideas coming, appreciate it a lot!

Hey everyone,

I've just started experimenting with the Berlin Defence which to me seems to be a pre knowledge opening where you have to know the underlying strategy very well.

I'm hoping someone could take a quick look at this blitz game and tell me what I should do against whites kingside. I've achieved the bishop pair and I know this is supposed to be good for me but how do I play it from there?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8 Kxd8 9.Bg5+? Ke8 10.Rd1 Be6 11.c3? h6 12.Bf5 Be7 13.h3 (is this a good move?) Rd8 14.Nbd2 Kd7 (maybe too slow?) 15.Ne4+ Kc8 16.b3 Bd5 17.Ng3 Nxg3 18.Bxg3 c5 19.Be6 g6 (a blitz move) 20.c4 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8 Kxd8 23.Kf2 c6 24.Ke3


Here is the diagram

Also, what are the best book on the Berlin Defence?