Baltic Defense

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Image:chess_zver_26.png
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
Image:chess_zhor_26.png

The Baltic Defense is the chess opening that begins with the moves

1.d4 d5
2.c4 Bf5

(The Baltic Opening is a different opening played by White that begins 1.Nc3. It has many other names, see Baltic Opening for details.)

The Baltic is an unusual variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD). It has not found wide-spread acceptance among chess masters, but some world-class players have used it including grandmasters Paul Keres and Alexei Shirov.

In most defenses to the QGD Black has difficulties developing his queen bishop. The Baltic takes a radical approach to the problem by bringing out the queen bishop immediately. White has tried many moves to attempt to refute this opening, including 3.Qb3, 3.Nc3, 3.cxd5, 3.e3, and 3.Nf3.

[edit] References

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