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After the moves 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3, what are major differences in plans and variations for Black between 6...Bb4 and 6...Be7?

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1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 (6...Be7)

Currently I use 6...Bb4 and play against an isolated d-pawn or hanging c and d pawns. I understand these plans quite well. But often Black concedes the bishop pair and is left with a bad light square bishop, which I think is a major weakness.

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According to the Game Database of ChessTempo, the mainlines of 6...Bb4 and 6....Be7 are quite similar:

  1. 6....Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0
  2. 6....Bb4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0

Remarkably, the main move for the second line is 10....Be7, which transposes to the first line, but with an extra Bd2 for white. For instance, Nakamura-Wojtaszek and Motylev-Jakovenko.

Instead of 7.cxd5, white can also play 7.Bd3. In this case it is difficult to tell whether the bishop is better placed on b4 (to have the possibility to take on c3) or on e7 (to protect against the pin after Bg5).

Edit by Evargalo: The logic behind Black wanting the White bishop on d2 and not c1 is a bit complicated: In the variations with the bishop on c1, the main line (after 9.0-0 Nc6) is the logical 10.Re1, where there is a lot of theory and Black has to work hard to equalize. With the bishop on d2, however, 11.Re1?! is a dubious pawn sacrifice after 11...Ndb4! 12. Bb1 (or Be4, or Bf1, or Bc4) Nxd4, because the Bd2 interferes in the Qd1-Pd4 connection. Thus the main lines are 11.Qe2 or 11.a3, which are less direct although the opening debate remains open to this day.

Objectively speaking, the values of 6....Bb4 and 6....Be7 are probably similar. Therefore, choosing between both moves is more a matter of taste.

Note that the position after 6....Bb4 can also arise after a transposition from the Nimzo-Indian, which is the subject of another Stack Exchange question.


      [StartPly "11"]

      [FEN ""]
      1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 (6...Be7 7.cxd5 (7.Bd3) Nxd5 8.Bd3 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Re1) 7.cxd5 (7.Bd3) Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O Be7 11.Re1?! (11.Qe2) (11.a3) Ndb4 12.Be4 Nxd4
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    I think it is important to explain the logic behind Black wanting the White bishop on d2 and not c1. In the variations with the bishop on c1, the main line (after 9.0-0 Nc6) is the logical 10.Re1, where there is a lot of theory and Black has to work hard to equalize. With the bishop on d2, however, 11.Re1?! is a dubious pawn sacrifice after 11...Ndb4! 12. Bb1 (or Be4, or Bf1, or Bc4) Nxd4, because the Bd2 interferes in the Qd1-Pd4 connection. Thus the main line are 11.Qe2 or 11.a3, which are less direct although the opening debate remains open to this day.
    – Evargalo
    Commented Oct 25, 2017 at 12:08
  • Thanks for noticing and explaining! I was unaware of the difference, but Re1 is indeed a strong move with the bishop on c1. In fact, my statement "probably little difference" might be a bit inaccurate. Maybe you can post your comment as an answer?
    – Maxwell86
    Commented Oct 25, 2017 at 19:00
  • I sure could, but I think it is better if all the valuable information is in one and the same answer, so I would prefer to complement your good answer with my remark. If you agree, I can do the edit.
    – Evargalo
    Commented Oct 26, 2017 at 12:05
  • Done. Up to you to accept the edit.
    – Evargalo
    Commented Oct 26, 2017 at 12:42

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