kylemeister wrote on 06/24/15 at 00:43:01:


Not an idea that I considered. Had I recalled the Hastings 1895 tournament, I could have contemplated followed the game Schiffers - Steinitz.

It's also plausible and popular in the line that runs. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nb5 Nd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5

If you play the Berlin against the Spanish at a 2000 level, you aren't really expecting the theoretical ending, rather you are trying to provoke 4. d3 or 4. Nc3. In the latter, transposing to the Four Knights, the reply 4. .. Bb4 is traditional, with the usual responses being 5. O-O or 5. d3.

But what of trying 5. Nd5? There's little practical experience to guide Black's reply. In the event I played the cautious 5. .. Ba5, but what's best?