Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Bc4/2...Ne7

Bishop's Opening: Sideline 2... Ne7?!
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/ppppnppp/8/4p3/2B1P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK1NR w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Ne7

Bishop's Opening - Sideline 2... Ne7

The move 2...Ne7 in response to the Bishop's Opening is a less common choice for Black, but it can lead to flexible setups like the Hungarian Defense or transpositions into other openings. Also, it is a passive move to prepare d5 when the classical 2. ..., Nf6! accomplishes the same goal placing it in a better developing and natural square. It aims to avoid exchanges with a move like d3. The knight on e7 is also vulnerable to attacks from the f3 knight and/or the c4 bishop and can be a target for a future Bxf7+ sacrifice.

White Central Control and Space:

1. Maintain e4 Pawn: White's pawn on e4 remains a central figure in maintaining a spatial advantage and central control. Depending on Black's play, White may opt to support it with d2-d3 or even a timely f2-f4.
2. Nf3 Development: Developing the knight to f3 not only supports the e5 pawn but also prepares to castle kingside swiftly.
3. d2-d3 and c2-c3: These pawn moves help support the central pawn structure, allow the bishop on c1 to be developed (often to e3 or g5), and sometimes provide a stepping stone for the d2 pawn to push to d4, striking at the heart of Black's center.

Piece Play and Tactical Ideas:

1. Bg5 Pin: Depending on how Black develops, the move Bg5 can be a strong pin against the knight on e7, especially if Black has already moved its d7 pawn.
2. Central Pawn Break: If Black remains passive or overly defensive, White can consider a central pawn break with d4, challenging Black's central pawn on e5.
3. King's Safety: White should be quick to castle kingside, connecting the rooks and preparing for central or kingside operations.
4. Flexible Queen's Knight Development: Depending on the situation, White's queen's knight can develop to c3 or d2, with each square having its benefits. Nc3 supports the e4 pawn, while Nd2 can offer added support for a future d3-d4 push or even prepare to reroute to the kingside via f1 and g3.

Longer-term Plans:

1. Kingside Pawn Storm: If Black castles kingside and White's center is secure, a pawn storm with moves like h2-h4 can become a potent weapon, especially if combined with pieces targeting Black's king.
2. Positional Pressure: The bishop on c4, combined with a knight on f3 and a rook on e1, can exert significant pressure on the f7 pawn, which is often a vulnerable spot in Black's position.
3. Control of d5: The d5 square is of particular importance. White's bishop on c4 already eyes this square. If Black ever plays ...c6 and ...d5, White should be ready to challenge or, if appropriate, allow a pawn exchange to open lines of play.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Ne7

	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Sideline 2... Ne7	Qh5?! d5!	exd5 Nd7!	d3 g6!	Qf3? Nf5					∓
	... ...	... ...	... ...	Qe2					⩱
	Nf3! Nec6	c3! Bc5?	d4! ...						+−
	... ...	... Be7	d4 d6	d5 Na5	Bd3 b6	c4 Bg4	Nc3 Nb7	h3	±
	... ...	... ...	... ...	... ...	... ...	b4 Nb7	a3 a5	Be3	±
	... Nbc6	Nc3 Ng6	h4 Be7	d3 h6	Nd5 d6	h5 Nf8	d4		±

References

Bibliography

• Kasparov, Gary & Keene, Raymond (1989, 1994). Batsford Chess Openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.
• Lane, Gary (1993). Winning With the Bishop's Opening. ISBN 0-7134-7113-1.

External links

• Goeller, Michael. The Bishop's Opening.
• Harding, Tim (August 1998). The Kibitzer: What Exactly is the Bishop's Opening?. ChessCafe.com.
• Harding, Tim (September 1998). The Kibitzer: The Eternal Appeal Of The Urusov Gambit. ChessCafe.com.
• Harding, Tim (October 1998). The Kibitzer: Is the Urusov Gambit Sound?. ChessCafe.com