2...Bf5 Defence

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

The 2...Bf5 defence (or Baltic Defence) 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. It has not found widespread acceptance among chess masters, but some world-class players have used it including grandmasters Paul Keres and Alexei Shirov.

In most defenses to the Queens's Gambit Declined, Black has difficulties developing his queen bishop. This opening takes a radical approach to the problem by bringing out the queen bishop immediately.

White has a number of moves in reply to this opening, including 3.Qb3, 3.Nc3, 3.cxd5, 3.e3, and 3.Nf3.

References

• Nunn, John (ed.); et al. (1999). Nunn's Chess Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 1-85744-221-0. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
• Polugajewski, Lev, "Damengambit, Tschigorin System bis Tarrasch-Verteidigung", Sportverlag Berlin 1984

External links

• chessgames.com an online chess database