If you play the black pieces and White plays 1. e4 and 3.Bb5 (Ruy Lopez or Spanish) then you can avoid the much played line 3…a6 and play 3…Nf6 instead. In this case you develop pieces quickly. Later on you should play your kingside bishop to c5, if you can, as this is the best square for this bishop.
This all depends on the way how White will react. This opening variation has been played a few times in world chess championships and is considered as very solid and drawish for Black.
Berlin Defence
Black has played 3…Nf6 instead of the usual 3…a6
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Read more about the Berlin Defence at Wikipedia
Return – to Chess Openings I
How Chess Grandmaster Igor Smirnov developed his chess teaching system.