Chessy
Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation — Black to play
After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5, you reach a calm but lively opening where White moves first and you already have a clear job: meet White’s active bishop without drifting into trouble. The engine says White has a small edge, so this is not a line for reckless counterplay. Your goal is simple: stay solid, develop naturally, and punish the one known mistake if White goes too far. Use the drill below to practise the key replies and feel the position for yourself.
Play the Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is asking you to do
This opening comes from the Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation, and it gives both sides rapid development with bishops aimed at the centre. As Black, you should treat the position as one where clean piece play matters more than memorising tricks. The bishop on c5 is active, but White also has easy development and several natural choices. That means you want to stay alert, keep your king safe, and be ready to answer sensible developing moves without loosening your own position.
What the numbers say
Stockfish rates this +0.28, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The database also shows White scoring 52.2% across 12,042,929 games at this exact position, with Black wins at 44.0% and draws at 3.8%. So this is playable, but you should expect White to have the easier game and aim for accuracy rather than improvisation.
The main reply to know
The engine's best move here is Nf3, and the listed continuation is Nf3 Nc6 c3 Nf6. That tells you the direction of play: White develops smoothly, and you answer with natural development of your own. Against the most common continuation, your first priority is not to create complications for their own sake; it is to keep pace, stay coordinated, and avoid drifting into an inferior structure or an exposed king.
The mistake to punish
One sharp idea stands out in the database: Bxf7+ is a mistake. It loses about 2.5 pawns, and the better move was Nf3. If White grabs with the bishop too early, you should be ready to welcome the tactical overreach rather than panic. In practical terms, this is exactly the kind of mistake you want to spot in the drill: White has moved first, but one tempting idea goes too far and leaves them worse.
Results across 12,042,929 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 3,947,514 | 50.3% |
| d3 | 1,844,792 | 50.7% |
| Qh5 | 1,794,510 | 58.5% |
| Qf3 | 1,482,953 | 50.0% |
| Nc3 | 926,897 | 52.1% |
| Bxf7+ | 623,605 | 53.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation good for Black to face?
It is playable, but the engine gives White a small edge. That means you should not expect to equalise by force, but you can still get a sound game with accurate development and good piece placement.
What is the main move I should expect from White?
The engine's best move is Nf3, and it is also the most common continuation. White usually develops naturally first, so you should be ready for a principled opening rather than an all-in attack.
What should I do if White plays Bxf7+?
The database marks Bxf7+ as a mistake. It loses about 2.5 pawns, and Nf3 was better, so you should stay calm and take advantage of the overreach.
Which White tries are most common in this position?
The most-played continuations are Nf3, d3, Qh5, Qf3, Nc3, and Bxf7+. Several of them score well for White, so it is worth learning the position well instead of assuming White will choose only one path.
How many games feature the Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation?
Over 12 million Lichess games have reached the Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation position. White wins 52.2%, Black wins 44.0%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.