Introduction to the Bishop's Opening
Introduction to the Bishop's Opening
The Bishop's Opening is not an opening in the the usual sense. It is defined by the opening sequence 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 providing an indirect but consistent means by which White is able to enter a variety of double King pawn (1.e4 e5) openings.
The attractiveness of the Bishop's Opening is its versatility and flexibility, giving White the option of playing (i.e., transposing into) different openings while at the same time obscuring or hiding his or her intentions from the opponent for the first few moves such that Black will be uncertain as to exactly which opening they will be facing. So using the Bishop's Opening move order is one way to keep your opponent guessing. For opponents not familiar with the Bishop's Opening (at the amateur level that should be many), it may simply confuse them, when they will not be confident about how to best respond to it - in many instances to White's advantage!
The point of White's second move, 2. Bc4, is that not only does it help to contest control of the important central d4 square, but at the same time it immediately eyes the f7 square which, in the beginning of the game prior to castling, is Black's weakest square as it is protected only by the King. This makes it inviting as a potential target for a Kingside attack by White. Significant as well is that the move 2.Bc4 allows White to circumvent the Petroff Defense - thus providing a means by which the first player can avoid having to endure what many view to be one of the more dull openings in chess!
Which openings can be played using the Bishop's Opening?
The following are some popular openings which can be played (via transposition) using the Bishop's Opening move order....
• The Italian Game (Giuoco Piano/Pianissimo, Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Evans Gambit, etc.)
• Vienna Game
• King's Gambit Declined
• King's Bishop's Gambit
• Urusov Gambit
• Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit
Many obscure gambits are possible via the Bishop's Opening move order, for example...
http://www.chessorb.com/bishops-opening-chess.html
Online chess openings explorers can be used to suggest possible continuations for White & Black following the Bishop's Opening sequence 1.e4 e5 2. Bc4......
Openings Explorer for the Bishop's Opening - 365Chess.com...
https://365chess.com/eco/C23_Bishop's_opening
Openings Explorer for the Bishop's Opening - ChessTempo.com...
https://old.chesstempo.com/gamedb/opening/157
Bishop's Opening games database - Chessgames.som...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?node=26269
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/collections?search=bishops+opening
Bishop's Opening Fundamentals
Note: occasionally some of the YouTube videos (in particular 'Remote Chess Academy') provide embedded links to additional, related online content, such as example games or tutorials - so be sure to check for that...
Bishop's Opening - Wikipedia...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_Opening
Bishop's Opening - wikiwand.com...
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Urusov_Gambit
Bishop's Opening - Michael Geller...
Short & Sweet: Bishop's Opening - Free Bishop's Opening Course - Chessable.com...
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-bishops-opening/course/82786/
Bishop's Opening (Sneaky Good Attack) - thechesswebsite...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKCWZ_Oe9g&ab_channel=thechesswebsite
Opening Basics #19: Bishop's opening - Jim's Chess Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69en7ATGxnA&ab_channel=Jim%27sChessChannel
Why Play The Bishop's Opening and Black's Most Popular Responses To It - Remote Chess Academy.....(for instructive example games, click the embedded links in the blank windows)...
Quick Checkmates in the Bishop’s Opening - Remote Chess Academy...
https://chess-teacher.com/quick-checkmates-in-the-bishop-opening/
Bishop's Opening - Ideas, Traps, and Everything! - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9plvGjsxRk93b3ss5OHguCSUIXvirzT8
Powerful Gambit to Win Fast in the Bishop's Opening - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r6ElpSnBIE&t=182s
Best Collection of the Bishops Opening + All the Traps - KaspaChess...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf3slcMd1Cc
Learn the POWERFUL Bishop's Opening - ChessGeek...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAAYOFAwfTE&ab_channel=ChessGeek
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Bishop’s Opening! - The Chess Giant...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD1iG4TBiEo&ab_channel=TheChessGiant
World First?! Chess Coach Teaches The Bishops Opening!! (Part 1 of 2) - Miodrag Perunovic...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw4-QF3olQw&ab_channel=MiodragPerunovic
Chess Tips: Play The Bishops Opening Like Kasparov!! 2...Nc6 (Part 2 of 2) - Miodrag Perunovic...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUX6I7-kGtc&ab_channel=MiodragPerunovic
Mastering the Bishop's Opening (C23-C24): A Comprehensive Guide - The Bishops Bounty...
https://bishopsbounty.blogspot.com/2022/04/bishops-opening-c23-c24.html
The Urusov Gambit - Ianchessgambits.com...
https://www.ianchessgambits.com/urusov-gambit.html
Urusov Gambit - Michael Geller...
The Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit - ianchessgambits.com...
https://www.ianchessgambits.com/boden-kieseritzky-gambit.html
The Modern Bishop's Opening | White's Response against the Two Knights Defense | IM Alex Astaneh - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1y01MBvZhI&ab_channel=Chessfactor
Two Knights Defense - Max Lange Attack - TheChessWorld.....(for the Bishop's Opening move order, search Bishop's)...
https://thechessworld.com/articles/openings/max-lange-attack-complete-guide/
Bishop's Openings Studies - lichess...
https://lichess.org/study/search?q=bishop%27s+opening
For more on the the Italian Game see my blog article...
Introduction to The Italian Game & Evans Gambit
Bishop's Opening Games
There are a rich variety of different chess openings that can be played from the Bishop's Opening move order. Because of this, attempting to provide a representative list of such a plethora of games in this blog article is impractical. Therefore for this purpose I recommend to make use of an online chess games database (see above) and/or books which feature instructive Bishop's Opening games. For the latter, the best book (IMO) is that by Gary Lane which I have recommended and commented on in the books section below.
Here a few examples of notable Bishop's Opening games.....including several played by former World Champions!...
TOP 5 Fastest WINS in the Bishop's Opening - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htiGil8B4zQ&t=16s&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
here, the complete games introduced in the above video (with their pgn files to share/export)...
https://lichess.org/study/l2cy3XcU/5PtzVsGh
Fischer's Aggressive Attack in the Bishop's Opening - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNYZP2B6Rq4&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
Robert James Fischer vs Mike McDermott 1-0 1964 New York (Bishop's Opening: Vienna Game)...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044204
Kasparov’s Aggressive Attack in the Bishop's Opening - Remote Chess Academy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz0MoOD5fSU&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
Garry Kasparov vs Oxford United Football 1-0 London 1993 (Bishop's Opening: Vienna - King's Gambit Declined Hybrid)...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1601846
Magnus Carlsen strikes with the Bishop’s Opening! - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQtav0zKE6k&ab_channel=HangingPawns
Magnus Carlsen vs Yifan Hou 1-0 Karlsruhe 2018 Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense (C24)...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1917001
Bishop's Opening Game Collections (downloadable PGN files) - Chessgames.com...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/collections?search=bishop%27s+opening
Books Featuring the Bishop's Opening
The Bishop's Opening Explained by Gary Lane (and pdf downloads)......
This book is not a opening manual in the traditional sense but instead is a survey of various openings that White can play using the Bishop's Opening move order. It provides an overview, in an instructive, annotated, complete-games format, of how the Bishop's Opening can be employed for a variety of popular double King pawn openings (1.e4 e5) - Italian Game, Vienna Game, Giuoco Pianissimo (aka, the 'Closed' Giuoco Piano), Evans Gambit, Two Knights Defense, King's Gambit Declined, Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit, Urusoff Gambit and Paulsen Defense. I highly recommend Lane's book as an instructive initial introduction to the Bishop's opening. Unfortunately the book is currently out of print and used copies are being offered for exorbitant prices. Thus I suggest to download a copy from either PDFdrive or Scribd (see below). From my experience downloading dozens of copies of chess books, both sites are safe and easy to use...
https://www.amazon.com/Bishops-Opening-Explained-Gary-Lane/dp/0713489170/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UEFG9AI65579&keywords=the+bishop%27s+opening+explained&qid=1682043778&s=books&sprefix=the+bishop%27s+opening+explained%2Cstripbooks%2C141&sr=1-1
Scribd and PDFdrive For Online Chess Book Reading, Downloading...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/scribd-com-for-online-chess-book-reading
pdf downloads...
https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-bishops-opening-explained-e158616970.html
https://www.scribd.com/doc/302591174/The-Bishop-s-Opening-Explained
https://www.scribd.com/search?query=the+bishop%27s+opening+explained&language=1&content_types&page=1
The Italian Renaissance 1: - Move Orders, Tricks & Alternatives By Martyn Kravtsiv...
Part 1 of Volume 1 of Kravtsiv's two-volume series provides detailed coverage of the Bishop's Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4), but excludes lines specific to the Italian game, which is the focus of Volume 2 of the series. Part 2 of Volume 1 provides coverage of the Petroff Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5) which, as mentioned earlier, can be avoided by employing the Bishop's Opening move order (as presented in Part 1).
Kravtsiv provides the most detailed, comprehensive coverage of the Bishop's Opening of any book currently in print. In fact, I consider it to be primarily a reference work, suitable for the serious B.O. player. Thus it is appropriate for advanced players and/or those who intend to make the B.O. their primary double-King pawn (1.e4 e5) opening as White...
https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Renaissance-Orders-Tricks-Alternatives/dp/1784830976/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1P283E6PBG9ZM&keywords=the+italian+renaissance+kravtsiv&qid=1682060472&s=books&sprefix=the+italian+renaissance+kravtsiv%2Cstripbooks%2C137&sr=1-2
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/ItalianRenaissance1-excerpt.pdf
The Italian Renaissance II: The Main Lines by Martyn Kravtsiv...
Voume 2 of Kravtsiv's two-volume series is principally concerned with what it considers to be the main lines of Italian Game proper (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3), as well as the Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3). It should be noted that while it does not explicitly call out Bishop's Opening move orders for these openings, it should be a relatively straight forward exercise to derive appropriate transpositions using online opening explorers and databases (see above) as well as with the aid of some of the other books cited in this article.
https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Renaissance-II-Main-Lines/dp/1784830992/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AAP0V11N4FWV&keywords=the+italian+renaissance+ii+kravtsiv&qid=1685433805&s=books&sprefix=the+italian+renaissance+ii+kravtsiv%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/ItalianRenaissance2-excerpt.pdf
Note: Both volumes of Kravtsiv's "The Italian Renaissance" are written from the perspective of the player of the White pieces.
The following are several of what I consider to be good opening repertoire books appropriate for the improving chess amateur which employ the Bishop's Opening move order for their featured double-King Pawn openings...
Attacking With 1 e4 by John Emms (and pdf download)...
Emms provides a complete opening repertoire for White following 1.e4. The featured Bishop's Opening is aimed at reaching positions of either the Vienna Game or the King's Gambit Declined (depending on Black's response). I appreciate Emms' choice of openings for the repertoire - they are aggressive but sound and the attacking themes are relatively easy to learn. As White against the Sicilian Defense Emms has chosen the Closed Sicilian - an effective and well regarded weapon. Against the French Defense you will respond with the flexible King's Indian Attack. Against the Caro-Kann you will play the Panov-Botvinnik Attack. Against the Pirc/Modern you counter with the 150 Attack. Against Alekhine's Defense you will play the Exchange Variation. Emms also recommends approaches for White against the Modern Defense, the Scandinavian Defense, the Nimzowitsch Defense, Owen's Defense and the St. George Defense. I can recommend this excellent book for every improving chess amateur who is looking for a sound, yet aggressive 1.e4 opening repertoire as White...
https://www.amazon.com/Attacking-e4-easy-learn-possible-ebook/dp/B00ZA2DM12/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8Y9KGNMUHGYC&keywords=attacking+with+1e4&qid=1682189313&s=books&sprefix=attacking+with+1e4%2Cstripbooks%2C150&sr=1-1
pdf download.....(yes, it's safe!)...
https://www.pdfdrive.com/emms-attacking-with-e4-e7169771.html
Beating 1e4 e5: A Repertoire For White In The Open Games by John Emms...
The title says it all, i.e., a complete opening repertoire for White after 1.e4 e5 (the so-called 'Open Game'). The featured opening for White is the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4). Chapter 6 is devoted to the Bishop's Opening move order for entering the opening (e.g., 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 or 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3). Emms does a better than average job of explaining the why's and wherefore's of choosing the chess moves...
https://www.amazon.com/Beating-1e4-e5-Repertoire-White/dp/1857446178/ref=sr_1_1?crid=H3UA4TSSF6UN&keywords=beating+1+e4+e5&qid=1682192663&s=books&sprefix=beating+1+e4+e5%2Cstripbooks%2C159&sr=1-1
Modern Chess Opening Repertoire for White by James Rizzitano...
This is a complete opening repertoire beginning with 1.e4, where against 1....e5 the featured Bishop's Opening is used to reach the Modern Italian Game (either the Giuoco Pianissimo or Two Knights Pianissimo, depending on Black's response). The repertoire's choice against the Sicilian Defense (1...c5) is either of the Alapin Variation (aka, The c3 Sicilian), the Rossolimo Variation, or the Moscow Varriation, depending on Black's responses. Against the French Defense (1...e6) White will play the Tarrasch Variation. Against the Caro-Kann (1...c6) White counters with the Advance Variation. Also treated are White's play against the following defenses: The Scandinavian (1...d5), The Pirc (1...d6/2...Nf6), The Modern (1...g6/2...Bg7), The Alekhine (1...Nf6), The Philidor (1...d6), The Nimzowitsch (1...Nc6), The Owen's (1...b6) and the St. George (1...a6) Defenses.
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Chess-Opening-Repertoire-White/dp/1911465740/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HC48B2KFTIOM&keywords=modern+chess+opening+repertoire+for+white&qid=1682191416&s=books&sprefix=modern+chess+opening+repert%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1
http://www.gambitbooks.com/books/Modern_Chess_Opening_Repertoire_for_White.html
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Modern_Chess_Opening_Repertoire_for_White.pdf
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For more articles on other chess topics, including helpful resources and book recommendations, check out my Chess.com blog.
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