Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...b6/3. Nf3/3...Bb7/4. Nc3/4...Bb4/5. Bd3/5...Ne7

e6b6 Cincinnati Style
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) rn1qk2r/pbppnppp/1p2p3/8/1b1PP3/2NB1N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQK2R w
Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Ne7
Parent: e6b6 Defense

e6b6 Cincinnati Style

e6b6 Cincinnati style follows the main line of the e6b6 defense up until move 5, where Black plays 5...Ne7 instead of 5...Nf6. It starts with the moves:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 b6
3. Nf3 Bb7
4. Nc3 Bb4
5. Bd3 Ne7

This setup was popularized by the Cincinnati Chess Club, hence its name, and has been used a total of 12 times by masters in major FIDE tournaments.

e6b6 Defense

The e6b6 Defense is an hypermodern opening focusing on controlling the important d5 and e4 squares. The move e7-e6 supports a d5 pawn push, the move b7-b6 prepares Bb7, and the move Bb7 controls the d5 and e4 squares directly. It wasn't used too often until famous Youtuber and International Master Levy Rozman created a chess course on the defense. Now, it is one of the more common defenses and has been used by many strong players as a secret weapon.

Description

The Cincinnati Style of the e6b6 Defense is a more passive way of playing the defense. Instead of the move 5...Nf6, putting more pressure on the d5 and e4 squares, Black plays 5...Ne7, supporting the eventual pawn break of f7-f5. The pawn break f7-f5 is crucial in Black's game plan. After castling, Black looks to soon push his f-pawn in order to move the e5 pawn out of Black's bishop on b7 and open the file for Black's rook on f8. The opening does help Black construct a big attack on the castled king.

Main Variations

After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Ne7 the most important continuations are:

• 6. O-O (Main line)
  • 6...O-O (Classical variation)
  • 6...Bxc3
  • 6...Ng6

• 6. Bg5 ()
  • 6...O-O
  • 6...Bxc3+

• 6. Bd2 ()
  • 6...O-O
  • 6...d6

• 6. a3 ()