5.Nxe5

Spanish : Berlin

Definition

“Spanish : Berlin” is shorthand for the Berlin Defence to the Spanish (Ruy Lopez) opening. In algebraic notation it arises after: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6. Black immediately attacks the e4–pawn instead of defending the own e-pawn with …a6 or …d6. The line is so solid and end-game–oriented that it earned the nickname “the Berlin Wall.”

Typical Move-Order & Ideas

A very common continuation is:

4.O-O Nxe4 – Black grabs the e-pawn, leading toward an early queen trade.
8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 – The famous “Berlin endgame.” Black’s king is in the centre, but queens are gone and the structure is rock solid.

Strategic Significance

Endgame Strength – Black aims for a slightly worse but very holdable ending; piece activity offsets a compromised pawn structure (the doubled c-pawns).
Piece Placement – Knights often head for d6 & f5; the light-squared bishop emerges via e7 or c5; the king often walks to e8–e7–e6.
White’s Task – Exploit the extra space, better pawn structure and the bishop pair before Black completes full development.

Historical Highlights

Kramnik vs. Kasparov, World Championship 2000 – Kramnik used the Berlin in games 1, 3, 5 & 9, neutralising Kasparov’s legendary White preparation and winning the title.
The line was considered passive until the 1990s but is now mainstream, regularly appearing at elite level (Carlsen, Ding, Nepomniachtchi).

Interesting Facts

The name comes from the 1851 London tournament, where German masters from Berlin (notably Paul Rudolf von Bilguer and Dr. Ludwig Bledow) popularised 3…Nf6.
Computers initially evaluated the Berlin endgame as +0.80 for White; as engines improved, the assessment drifted toward equality, mirroring human practice.

Beverwijk

Definition

“Beverwijk” refers to the annual Dutch super-tournament originally held in the coastal town of Beverwijk, the Netherlands. Known first as the Hoogovens tournament (1938 – 1999), it later moved to nearby Wijk aan Zee and is today famous as the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. In databases and chess literature, older game scores are tagged simply with the venue “Beverwijk.”

Usage in Chess Literature

Game References – “Botvinnik – Bronstein, Beverwijk 1946”.
Opening Citations – Some opening encyclopedias label a sub-variation by the event where it was first seen; e.g. “Queen’s Gambit Declined, Beverwijk Variation” (rarely used today).

Historical Significance

Launching Pad for Talent – The “B” and “C” groups traditionally allow promising juniors to qualify for the top group the following year. Anish Giri, Magnus Carlsen and Jorden van Foreest all rose through this system.
Debut of Theoretical Ideas – Many cutting-edge opening novelties first appeared here because the event is staged in January, setting the agenda for the rest of the chess year.
Endurance Factor – With 13 rounds and rest days spent near the windy North Sea, the tournament is nicknamed “the Wimbledon of Chess.”

Notable Games

Tal vs. Botvinnik, Beverwijk 1969 – A sharp Catalan in which Tal sacrificed material, showing his attacking flair despite ill health.
Karpov vs. Miles, Beverwijk 1986 – Miles’ celebrated end-game defence with opposite-coloured bishops.

Interesting Anecdotes

The playing hall was once inside the steel factory’s recreation centre, so participants occasionally analysed with the rhythmic clang of machinery in the background.
When Garry Kasparov first played (1981), he walked along the freezing coastline to “clear his head” after every game—locals still recount the sight of the teenager in a fur hat braving the North Sea winds.

Definition

The move “5.Nxe5” (“Knight takes e5 on move five”) is the critical pawn capture that appears in several open-game openings, most famously the Petroff (Russian) Defence and certain Philidor lines. It usually marks the transition from symmetrical manoeuvring to sharp tactical play, as one side challenges the opponent’s central pawn structure head-on.

Context – The Petroff Defence

Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5. White recaptures the pawn on e5, reinstating material balance but creating tension because both knights are en prise.

Strategic & Tactical Themes

Mutual Material Imbalance — After 5.Nxe5, Black may reply 5…Nd7 or 5…Bd6, leading to complex early middlegames where both sides must calculate accurately.
Central Control vs. Piece Activity — White gains spatial advantage; Black relies on solid structure and rapid development.
Pinned Knights — In some lines (e.g. Philidor Hanham), 5.Nxe5 can be met by …d6, pinning the e5-knight against the queen or bishop and regaining the pawn.

Illustrative Continuation

In the above sample line, both sides’ queens spring into action, showing how 5.Nxe5 often ushers in early dynamic play.

Other Openings Featuring 5.Nxe5

Philidor Defence, Antoshin Variation – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxe5.
Two Knights Defence, Fritz Variation – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.Nxe5.
Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Deferred – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe5.

Historical & Practical Significance

The early capture on e5 often determines whether an opening line is considered “critical.” Grandmasters frequently prepare novelties starting with or aimed at this move.
Kasparov vs. Karpov, Linares 1993 – Kasparov’s precise 5.Nxe5 in the Petroff led to a crushing kingside attack, refuting Karpov’s preparation for that game.

Fun Fact

Because the move occurs in so many unrelated openings, some training sites group tactical exercises under the motif “Knight takes e5,” turning 5.Nxe5 into a shorthand puzzle hint for amateurs learning to exploit central pins and overloaded pieces.