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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com we will learn the Classical Variation of the Bishop's Opening. Being a variation of the Bishop's Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4), the Classical runs with the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5. Unofficially, it is called the Boi variation of the Bishop's Opening. The Classical Variation is ECO code C23 in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (C23 starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4).
I. Bishop's Opening Classical Variation
The Classical Variation is not so popular as the Berlin Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6), but it belong to the main variations and covers 5% of the Bishop's Opening games at master level. The Classical Variation has 9 sub-variants which are played very rarely (find them here). The C23 Classical Variation runs as 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5. See the Classical Variation in the following picture:
Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5
Opening: Bishop's Opening
Variation: Classical Variation
ECO Code: C23
• Study 20 Variations of the Bishop's Opening
You can learn below the proven lines of the Bishop Opening Classical Variation (How to Play). They have been proved by an opening book, by a Bishop Opening database, and by a chess engine showing who is better in pawns as follows: + White; - Black; 0-0.50 equal; 0.51-1.00 slightly better; 1.01-1.50 better; 1.51 much better. Examples: +1.27 (White is better as if White won 1.27 pawns by material). -0.64 (Black is slightly better as if Black won 0.64 pawns). +0.42 (position is equal).
II. How to Play Bishop Opening Classical Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5
Chess masters play 3.Nf3 (55%), Nc3 (20%), d3 (10%), c3 (5%).
They play very rarely 3.Qh5, b4, Qe2, Qf3, Qg4 (in total 8%).
x Watch 3.Qh5, Qf3 to avoid the Scholar's Mate (see below).
• Main Variant via 3.Nf3 (55%)
Bishop Opening Classical Variation
3.Nf3 Nc6(d6) 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6(Nc6) 6.0-0 0-0 (+0.41)
• Variants via 3.Nc3 (20%), d3 (10%), c3 (5%)
Bishop Opening Classical Variation
3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.Na4 Bb6 6.Nxb6 axb6 (+0.28)
3.d3 d6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Na4 Bb6 6.Nxb6 axb6 (+0.12)
3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.cxd4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nxd2 d5 (+0.00)
x Watch 3.Qh5, Qf3 to avoid the Scholar's Mate
Bishop Opening Classical Variation
Watch 3.Qh5, Qf3 to avoid the Scholar's mate!
For example: 3.Qh5(Qf3) Nc6?? 4.Qxf7#
The best answers of Black to avoid the mate are:
If 3.Qh5, then 3... Qe7 4... d6(Nf6) (-0.27)
(NOT 3... g6: 3.Qh5 g6? 4.Qxe5+ Qe7 5.Qxh8 Qxe4+ Kf1 (-7.55))
If 3.Qh3, then 3... Nf6 (-0.36)
• To the Main Page of the Bishop Opening (Lesson 22)
Here on chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have learned the Bishop's Opening Classical Variation C23 (sometimes called as Boi Variation). The Bishop's Opening start with 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4, and the Classical Variation runs as 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5. The best moves of White to answer the Classical are 3.Nf3, Nc3, d3, c3. (Chess beginners should watch 3.Qh5, Qf3 to avoid the Scholar's mate!)
