Bishop's Opening: Berlin Spielmann Attack
Bishop’s Opening: Berlin, Spielmann Attack
Definition
The Bishop’s Opening: Berlin, Spielmann Attack is a sharp sub-line of the Bishop’s Opening that begins 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4. It is catalogued in ECO as C24. The name combines three ideas:
- Bishop’s Opening – White fianchettos the king’s bishop early with 2.Bc4 instead of the more common 2.Nf3, aiming at the f7-square.
- Berlin Defence (to the Bishop’s Opening) – Black answers 2.Bc4 with 2…Nf6, mirroring the famous Berlin in the Ruy Lopez and striking at e4.
- Spielmann Attack – Named for Austrian grandmaster Rudolf Spielmann, the aggressive 3.d4 thrust challenges the centre at once and opens lines for rapid development.
Typical Move Order
The critical starting sequence is:
- e4 e5
- Bc4 Nf6 (Berlin Defence to the Bishop’s Opening)
- d4 exd4
- Nf3 Nc6
(Other tries for Black include 4…Bb4+ or 4…d6, but 4…Nc6 is most common.)
After 4…Nc6 the game can branch into:
- 5.e5 (main line), driving the knight from f6 and seizing space.
- 5.O-O, allowing a quieter build-up but keeping options of c3 and e5 in reserve.
Strategic Themes
Key ideas for each side:
- White:
- Immediate central pressure with d4 and often e5.
- Rapid development: Bc4, Nf3, O-O, Re1, sometimes c3 and Qb3 to double-attack f7 and b7.
- Tactical motifs on the f-file (especially sacrifices on f7) and pins along the a2–g8 diagonal.
- Black:
- Counter-attack e4 and d4, often targeting the advanced e5 pawn after White pushes it.
- Piece activity over pawn structure; …Nc6, …Bb4+, and …d6 are frequent resources.
- If White overextends, Black can exploit weak light squares and an exposed king (since Bc4 left c2 and d1 unguarded).
Historical Significance
The line carries the name of Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942), dubbed “The Master of Attack.” Spielmann employed 3.d4 in several exhibition games and post-WWI tournaments, seeking unbalanced middlegames rather than the slower maneuvering in the mainline Bishop’s Opening (3.Nf3).
Although it never rivaled the popularity of the Ruy Lopez or the Italian Game, the Spielmann Attack has enjoyed periodic revivals among enterprising players who want to avoid heavily analyzed Ruy-Lopez theory while still keeping a direct grip on the centre.
Illustrative Game
One of the earliest model games is Spielmann’s own:
Rudolf Spielmann – Ernst Grünfeld, Vienna 1920
[[Pgn| 1.e4|e5|2.Bc4|Nf6|3.d4|exd4|4.Nf3|Nc6|5.e5|d5|6.exf6|dxc4|7.O-O|Qxf6|8.Bg5|Qg6|9.Re1+|Be6|10.Nbd2|Bd6|11.Nxc4|Bb4|12.c3|dxc3|13.Nce5|Nxe5|14.Qa4+|c6|15.Qxb4|Nxf3+|16.gxf3|Qxg5+|17.Kh1|O-O-O|18.bxc3|Rd2|19.Rab1|b6|20.Re4|Rxf2|21.Rg1|Qh5|22.Rg2|Qxf3|23.Rg4|Bxg4|24.Qxg4+|Qxg4|25.Rxg4|Re8|26.Kg1|Rc2|27.Kf1|Rd8|28.Re4|Rxa2|29.Re7|Rd1#|fen| |arrows|e2e4,e7e5,d2d4|squares|f7,c4]]Spielmann lost this wild skirmish, but the game highlights typical tactics: a central pawn roller, open lines for both bishops, and king safety as a constant theme.
Modern Usage
Today the Spielmann Attack appears mostly:
- As a surprise weapon in rapid and blitz chess, where forcing lines and initiative weigh more than long-term structural concerns.
- In computer play: engines rate the position close to equality but rich in complexity, tempting improvisation.
- Among club players who prefer immediate confrontation to theory-heavy alternatives.
Grandmasters such as Boris Spassky and Baadur Jobava have dabbled in it to sidestep booked-up opponents.
Example Position to Visualize
After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e5, picture:
- White pawns: e5, d4 (gone), e4 (moved), g2, h2, etc.
- White pieces: Bc4 menacing f7, Nf3 poised for kingside attack, king still on e1 but ready to castle.
- Black: knight on f6 under fire, knight on c6 blocking c-pawn, queen’s bishop yet undeveloped, but central tension favors counter-play with …d5 or …Ng4.
Interesting Facts
- Because 2…Nf6 in the Bishop’s Opening mirrors the Berlin Defence of the Ruy Lopez, some databases label this line “Petit Berlin.”
- The move 3.d4 is so direct that some tactical puzzles quote positions from the Spielmann Attack to train calculation on early piece sacrifices at f7.
- In the 2020s, neural-network engines (e.g., Leela Zero) briefly rated 3.d4 among top engine choices at low depth, reviving interest in the line.
Summary
The Bishop’s Opening: Berlin, Spielmann Attack combines rapid development, immediate central confrontation, and rich tactical possibilities. While objectively sound for both sides, its true value lies in its surprise potential and the dynamic positions it yields—perfect terrain for players who, like Rudolf Spielmann himself, relish the art of attack.