Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Trap

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C65), reached after 10 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5 c6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Trap is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C65. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 10 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5 c6.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Berlin Defense → Anti-Berlin Variation → Mortimer Trap line). The immediate parent line is Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, transitioned via 5…c6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bb5 Nf6, 4.d3 Ne7, 5.Nxe5 c6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.