The Berger Variation is a variation of the Philidor Defense, catalogued as ECO C41. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Re1, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move after ten moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Philidor Defense generally: A solid but somewhat passive defense. Black supports e5 with d6 for a strong center.
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 20 Philidor Defense variations →
The Berger Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Re1. It is a variation of the Philidor Defense and is catalogued as ECO C41.
The Berger Variation is ECO C41. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Philidor Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Re1 at +0.01 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.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.