Bishop's Opening · C23

Calabrese Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 f5

White posts a bishop on c4 eyeing f7 and keeps the option of either Italian-style development or an early f-pawn push.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4, eyeing d5. It eyes f7, the one square only the king defends. Theory calls this the Bishop's Opening.
• 2... f5 Challenges the pawn on e4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Calabrese Countergambit: development and initiative over material.

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