Bernal, The Berlin-Defence unraveled

The Berlin Defence has been a highly popular opening in top level chess ever since Vladimir Kramnik famously used it in the 2000 World Championship match to wrest the title from Garry Kasparov.

Club players often hesitate to include the Berlin in their repertoire because they see the typical Berlin Wall endgame as complex and daunting.

International Master Luis Bernal has unraveled the Berlin and made it accessible for amateur players. His practical guide is fully up to date, explains typical formations and strategies, and presents new ideas and resources in the old Berlin Wall structures.

But today, the Berlin is much more than just the Wall. Bernal systematically leads you through the labyrinth of the various modern Anti-Berlins with their constant flow of new ideas. He also presents a number of tricky sidelines that could catch your opponent off guard.

This no-nonsense, state-of-the-art guide finally brings this important chess opening within reach of club players. With clear explanations, concise conclusions and didactic exercises.

Luis Javier Bernal (1971) is an International Master from Spain, an experienced chess trainer and a well-known journalist.



Contents

Explanation of symbols

Preface by the author

Chapter 1 - Fourth move alternatives

Chapter 2 - 4.d3 d6

Chapter 3 - 4.d3 Rc5: Introduction, and the development of the b1-knight

Chapter 4 - 4.d3 Rc5 5.Rxc6 dxc6

Chapter 5 - 4.d3 Rc5 5.0-0

Chapter 6 - 4.d3 Rc5 5.c3: Sidelines

Chapter 7 - 4.d3 Rc5 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 d6

Chapter 8 - 4.0-0 Nxe4: Alternatives to 5.d4

Chapter 9 - 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4: The Berlin jungle

Chapter 10 - The Old Berlin: 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7

Chapter 11 - 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6: Alternatives to the endgame

Chapter 12 - The Westerinen-Eslon Variation: 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Ne4

Chapter 13 - The Berlin endgame: from Lasker to Kramnik

Chapter 14 - 9... h6

Chapter 15 - Eljanov s Repertoire

Chapter 16 - The Blockade Variation

Chapter 17 - 9...Ke8, lines without ...h7-h5

Chapter 18 - The Check Variation

Chapter 19 - The Almasi-Kramnik Variation

Chapter 20 - Game collection

Chapter 21 - Instructive Berlin positions

Chapter 22 - Solutions

Index of names

Index of games

Index of variations

Bibliography