Ruy Lopez Opening: Berlin Nyholm Attack
Ruy Lopez Opening: Berlin Nyholm Attack
Definition
The Berlin Nyholm Attack is an aggressive branch of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish) Opening that arises from the Berlin Defence after White castles. Instead of the more traditional 5. Re1, White immediately strikes the centre with 5. d4, aiming to exploit the temporary displacement of Black’s knight on e4.
Standard Move-order
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 (Nyholm Attack)
Strategic Ideas
- Immediate central counter-punch: By playing 5.d4 at once, White challenges Black’s e5-pawn and opens lines before Black consolidates.
- Piece activity vs. pawn structure: White often accepts doubled c-pawns after Bxc6, but gains open files and rapid development.
- King safety issues: Black’s king remains in the centre a few moves longer than in main-line Berlins, giving White chances for initiative.
- Flexible transpositions: If Black replies 5…Be7 or 5…Nd6, play can transpose to lines resembling the Open Ruy Lopez, but with the subtle difference that White’s rook is already on e1’s open file.
Main Black Replies
- 5…Be7 – covering the knight and preparing …Nd6 or …exd4. Considered the most solid.
- 5…Nd6 – retreating the knight immediately and inviting 6.Bxc6 dxc6 when structural imbalances arise.
- 5…exd4 – grabbing the pawn, but after 6.Re1 d5 7.Nc3 White enjoys quick development.
Theoretical Status
Modern engines judge the Nyholm Attack as roughly equal with best play, but its sharp character allows White to avoid the heavily analysed 5.Re1 Berlin Endgame. It is therefore a popular surprise weapon, especially in rapid and blitz.
Illustrative Game
Magnus Carlsen – Vladimir Kramnik, London Chess Classic 2017
[[Pgn| e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|Nf6|O-O|Nxe4|d4|Be7|Re1|Nd6|Bxc6|dxc6|dxe5|Nf5|Qe2| O-O|Nc3|Qe8|h3|Bd8|Bf4|Ne7|Rad1|Ng6|Bg3|Be6|Nd4|Bd7|Qh5|c5|Nf5|Qe6| Ne3|Bc6|Ncd5|Ne7|Nf4|Qg6|Nxg6|fxg6|Qe2 |arrows|e4e5,d4d5|squares|e4,d4,c6,f5]]Historical Note
The line is named after the Finnish master Gösta Nyholm, who employed it in the early 1900s. Although overshadowed for decades by the endgame-oriented 5.Re1 lines, it resurfaced in top-level play once Garry Kasparov, Alexei Shirov, and later Magnus Carlsen began using it to sidestep the so-called “Berlin Wall”.
Practical Tips
- Know the tactical shots. Ideas such as Bxc6 + and d4-d5 breaks occur frequently.
- Piece coordination. White’s light-squared bishop can reroute to f4, g5 or even a3, targeting Black’s queen-side weaknesses.
- Clock pressure weapon. Because sidelines branch rapidly, opponents unfamiliar with the nuances may consume large amounts of time deciding between 5…Be7 and 5…Nd6.
- Endgame awareness. If the queens come off early, the resulting structures often resemble improved Open Spanish endings where White’s doubled pawns can become endgame assets (open files, outside passer).
Interesting Facts
- In the 2018 World Championship match, Fabiano Caruana prepared the Nyholm Attack as a possible surprise against Carlsen, though it never appeared on the board.
- The earliest known game with 5.d4 was Nyholm – James Mortimer, Ostend 1907, which Nyholm won in 23 moves.
- Some databases list 5.d4 as the “Rio de Janeiro Variation” (reflecting its popularity in Brazilian events of the 1960s), but “Nyholm Attack” is the historically accepted term.