Bishop's Opening

Why the Bishop's Opening is worth training

The Bishop's Opening starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4. White develops the bishop before the knight and points it at f7 at once. Leaving the f-pawn free keeps two plans open: a quiet d3 setup, or a kingside push with f4 and f5. Because the knight stays on g1, White avoids the Petrov and many prepared lines after 2.Nf3.

Chessmate has a Bishop's Opening course for White and a Bishop's Opening course for Black. The White course plays 3.d3 against every main reply. The Black course answers with 2...Nf6 and the central break ...c6 and ...d5.

The 3...c6 main line in the White sample line

In the White sample line, Black meets 3.d3 with 3...c6, preparing ...d5. After 4.Nf3 d5, White does not take on d5. 5.Bb3 keeps the bishop on its diagonal toward f7 and lets Black hold the center for now. When Black plays 5...a5, White stops the pawn with 6.a4, so ...a4 cannot chase the bishop.

6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 trades a pair of bishops, and White recaptures with the b-knight so the f3-knight still watches e5 and d4. White castles, puts the rook on e1 behind e4, and only then breaks with 11.d4. The central pawns attack e5 once the king is safe and the pieces work together.

The course also covers Black's other ideas after 3...c6: 5...Bd6, 5...Qc7, and the early exchange in the center that leads to 16.Nxd4.

The f5 plan and a trap after 7...Ng4

Against setups with ...Nc6 and ...Bc5, the White course plays Nc3, f4, and Nf3, then pushes f5. The pawn on f5 takes e6 away from Black's light-squared bishop and gains space on the kingside. After 7...Nd4 8.Nxd4 Bxd4 9.Ne2 Bb6 10.Ng3, the knight heads for h5 while Black still has to find counterplay.

The jump 7...Ng4 looks active, since it eyes f2. 8.Qe2 covers f2, and after 8...Nf2 9.Rf1 the knight has to go back to g4. 10.h3 drives it away again. Black has moved the same knight four times, and White keeps the kingside space.

The course also covers 2...Nc6, 2...Bc5, 3...Nc6 with ...Na5, 5...exf4 with long castling for White, the Calabrese with 2...f5, and 2...c6 met by the central break 3.d4.

The Black sample line: ...c6 and ...d5

The Black course answers 2.Bc4 with 2...Nf6, which develops with an attack on e4. After 3.d3, 3...c6 prepares ...d5, and 4...d5 hits the bishop and the e4-pawn at the same time, before White has castled.

In the sample line, White keeps the bishop with 5.Bb3, and Black plays 5...a5 to threaten ...a4. After 6.a4 Bb4+ 7.c3, the bishop goes back to d6, where it defends e5. Following 8.exd5 cxd5, Black has a pawn on d5 and an open c-file. 9...h6 keeps a White bishop off g5, and 10...Nc6 brings another piece to the center.

Other White tries, including the Urusov Gambit

The Black course has a plan against each sideline. If White takes on d5 early, Black recaptures with the c-pawn and gives the bishop on c3 to leave White with doubled pawns. Against 4.Ne2, Black gains space with ...d4. Against 3.Qe2, Black expands on the queenside with ...Na5 and ...b5.

The Urusov Gambit with 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 offers a pawn for quick development. Black takes the pawn and answers at once with 4...d5. After 5.exd5 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 O-O 8.O-O Nxd5, Black still has the extra pawn on d4. 9...Bg4 then pins the knight on f3, a piece White needs to win that pawn back.

What to train first

Pick the course that matches the side you play.

• If you play 2.Bc4 with White, start with the Bishop's Opening course for White. Learn the 3...c6 sample line, then the f5 plan against ...Nc6 and ...Bc5.
• If you meet 2.Bc4 with Black, start with the Bishop's Opening course for Black. Learn the ...c6 and ...d5 sample line, then the answer to the Urusov Gambit.
• With either color, watch the bishop's diagonal toward f7. Many moves in this opening are about keeping it open or closing it.

The Bishop's Opening rewards patience more than early attacks. Train the lines until you know when White should break with d4 and when the push to f5 is the better plan.