Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense & l'Hermet Variation

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense

Definition

The Berlin Defense is a reply to the Ruy Lopez that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6. Black immediately attacks the e4-pawn and steers the game toward solid, symmetrical structures. In the ECO classification it is coded C65–C67.

How it is used in play

Early queen trade: After 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 the queens disappear and Black accepts a slightly worse but very resilient endgame.
Anti-Berlins: White can dodge the endgame with 4. d3, 4. Nc3 or 4. O-O d3, leading to richer middlegames.
Transpositions: If Black prefers, 4. O-O Bc5 or 4. O-O d6 can sidestep the main line and reach other Spanish systems.

Strategic themes

Endgame mastery. The famous “Berlin Endgame” gives Black the bishop pair and a rock-solid pawn structure at the cost of a slightly passive king and scattered queenside pawns.
Piece activity vs. structure. White presses on the kingside with the knight pair and a potential kingside pawn majority; Black relies on compactness and the long-term power of the bishops.
Psychological weapon. By offering an early queen swap Black signals confidence in defensive technique and endgame skill.

Historical significance

Invented in 1851 by the Berlin master Carl Jaenisch, the line was sporadically used throughout the 19^th century. Its modern renaissance came in the 2000 World Championship match, where Vladimir Kramnik adopted it as his main defense and neutralised Garry Kasparov’s formidable White preparation. Since then the Berlin has been a mainstay at elite level.

Illustrative mini-example

Interesting facts

The line is sometimes jokingly called “the Berlin Draw” because of its reputation for solidity.
The queenless endgame has generated an entire sub-discipline of theory; some grandmasters specialise in nothing but the Berlin from either side.
Engine analysis shows the position after move 10 is almost exactly equal, yet the world’s best still fight for 70–80 more moves.

l' Hermet Variation (within the Berlin Defense)

Definition

The l' Hermet Variation is an alternative to the main Berlin Endgame, entered by

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4.
ECO code: usually grouped under C66.

Origins of the name

It is attributed to the 19^th-century French player Jean-Louis l' Hermet, who championed the idea of delaying ...Nxe4 in favour of the modest ...d6 to keep the position flexible.

Main ideas for each side

White seizes space with d4, often following up with Nc3, Bxc6, or Re1 to maintain a classical Spanish bind.
Black maintains the tension:
1. 5... Bd7 or 5... exd4 6.Nxd4 Bd7 holds the center;
2. quick castling and ...Re8 put pressure on e4;
3. the solid pawn chain e5–d6 limits White’s central breaks.

Typical continuation

Strategic and practical value

• Gives Black a quieter, less theoretical route compared with the heavily analysed 4…Nxe4 lines.
• Because queens usually remain on the board, the middlegame is richer and more tactical.
• Popular as a surprise weapon—many strong players have used it to avoid their opponent’s computer preparation.

Interesting nuggets

Although no longer common in super-GM practice, the variation appears frequently in club play, especially in rapid and blitz where players value simplicity.
Several modern grandmasters—e.g. Alexei Shirov and Baadur Jobava—have revived it occasionally, leading to fresh resources and renewed interest in the last decade.

Berlin Wall Defense

Definition

The term “Berlin Wall” refers to the endgame variation of the Berlin Defense in which Black erects a near-impregnable defensive structure—analogous to the Cold-War wall that once divided Berlin. The critical line is

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8.

Strategic landscape

King in the centre: Black’s king on d8 is safe because queens are off the board; it often marches to e8, e7, or even c8 to assist the queenside pawns.
Pawn structure: Black’s c- and e-pawns are doubled, but the compact f7–e6–d7 triangle is extremely hard to break.
Bishop pair: Black relies on long-range counterplay once the bishops are activated by …b6 or …a5.
White’s plans: Exploit the kingside majority (f2–g2–h2 vs. f7–g7–h7) by advancing f4–f5 or creating a passer on the kingside; invade along the d-file with rooks.

Historical impact

The “wall” gained worldwide fame during the Kasparov – Kramnik, London 2000 World Championship. Kramnik drew or won every game he defended with it, dethroning Kasparov and sparking a Berlin craze.

Model game: Kramnik – Kasparov, WCh 2000 (Game 3)

Despite suffering a tiny, long-lasting edge, Kasparov could not break the Wall and the game ended peacefully after 46 moves.

Interesting facts

Some engines evaluate the starting Berlin Wall position as “0.00” yet elite players continue to unearth novel plans even two decades after London 2000.
The line has been jokingly compared to “putting the Spanish bishop in prison,” because White’s light-squared bishop is exchanged on move 6.
In blitz, grandmasters sometimes play …h5-h4 to fix the kingside pawns and make the fortress even tougher to breach.