The Lisitsyn Variation is a variation of the Bishop's Opening, catalogued as ECO C23. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 cxd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Ne2, reaching the position shown below after 15 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move after eight moves. Black’s d-file pawn is isolated; the e-file file is fully open.
On the Bishop's Opening generally: White develops the bishop early to c4, targeting f7. Can lead to sharp or quiet positions.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 9 Bishop's Opening variations →
The Lisitsyn Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 cxd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Ne2. It is a variation of the Bishop's Opening and is catalogued as ECO C23.
The Lisitsyn Variation is ECO C23. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Bishop's Opening.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 cxd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Ne2 at -0.06 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Black’s d-file pawn is isolated; the e-file file is fully open.