Baltic Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.Nf3 e6 · D06
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
Develop the bishop, but watch b7
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
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- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
The idea
Black develops the queen's bishop outside the pawn chain on move two, inviting White to grab the b7 pawn and then opening the centre in response.
Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.e3 c6 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 Nbd7
What White wants
- Accept the b7 pawn only if the tactics work
- Develop normally and keep the bishop on f5 from becoming a problem
- Play for a safe, small advantage rather than material
What Black wants
- Use the activity on the queenside and the ...Nxd4 tricks to regain the pawn
- Develop with ...e6 and ...Nf6 and hit the white queen
- Trade pieces and equalise with better-placed pieces
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Develop the bishop, but watch b7
...Bf5 brings the c8 bishop outside the pawn chain before ...e6. It also leaves b7 undefended, so Black must consider Qb3 and central tactics. White can instead develop normally and challenge d5; the early bishop move offers activity, not a forced tactical win.
Common mistake
Grabbing b7 without checking the central response. In the example ...Nxd4 captures a pawn but does not attack the queen on b7, and ...Bxb1 captures a knight. White also takes material; calculate the full sequence and its development costs rather than only the first pawn.
Mistake example: Bxb1.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r2qkb1r/pp1n1ppp/2p1pn2/3p4/2PP4/2NQPN2/PP3PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 1 8
Analyze this position