Chessy
Portuguese Opening: Bc5 – A Level Fight from Move One
If you enjoy steering opponents away from well-worn theory, the Portuguese Opening: Bc5 (1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Bc5 3.Nf3) might be your new surprise weapon. Stockfish rates the position +0.12 — that's dead level, with neither side holding an advantage out of the opening. Over 177,422 games on Lichess, White wins 47.6% of the time, Black 49.1%, and only 3.3% end in draws. That low draw rate tells you this line produces rich, decisive chess. Below the interactive drill, you'll find the key ideas, the engine's best response, and the most common mistakes Black makes right here.
Play the Portuguese Opening: Bc5 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Play through the Portuguese Opening: Bc5 in the interactive drill below. Practice against the engine as Black tries each of these replies, and see the correct 3
Create a free account →What You Are Fighting For
The Portuguese Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bb5) looks like a Ruy Lopez but aims at something different. By pinning Black's king's knight before it even arrives, White hopes to create slight discomfort in Black's development. After the natural reply 2...Bc5, Black has already posted his bishop actively — so the game becomes about who gets their pieces into play with better coordination. White's extra tempo (the knight on f3 vs Black's still-unmoved knight) is real but small. The engine's +0.12 and the near-equal win percentages confirm this is a fair fight. Your job is to maintain the balance and wait for Black to overreach.
The Critical Moment: Black's Third Move
After 1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Bc5 3.Nf3, it is Black to move, and his choice here determines the character of the game. The most popular move is 3...c6 (played 59,159 times), which attacks White's bishop and leads to the engine's best continuation: 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Nxe5. Notice that White wins a pawn temporarily — Black gets development compensation. This is the critical line to know. The second-most popular move is 3...Nf6 (38,544 games), but here the statistics already turn: Black scores only 46.7% from this position, and the engine flags it as an inaccuracy costing roughly 0.9 pawns compared to 3...c6. Your winning chances go up when Black reaches for a natural-looking developing move that is actually a mistake.
Three Black Inaccuracies You Can Punish
The database identifies three common Black replies that miss the best move 3...c6. Each gives you a measurable edge if you know the correct response. Let's look at them: - 3...Nf6: The most common inaccuracy (38,544 games). It loses roughly 0.9 pawns compared to 3...c6. The engine line continues with a pawn grab: 4.Nxe5 (since Black's knight on f6 no longer defends e5). Black gets some activity but you come out ahead. - 3...a6: Played 20,807 times, this costs Black about 0.6 pawns. Immediate pressure on your bishop is tempting, but it wastes time. Simply retreat 4.Ba4 and Black has lost a tempo. - 3...Qf6: This aggressive-looking queen sortie (16,558 games) loses roughly 0.7 pawns. Black attacks f2 but neglects development. A calm response like 4.d4 or 4.Nc3 leaves Black's queen misplaced later. White scores 48.2% against this — solid.
The Bxf2+ Surprise
One tricky reply you must be ready for is 3...Bxf2+ (14,558 games played). Black sacs a bishop for two pawns and some attack. This is the option where Black scores lowest — just 44.5% — so while it looks scary, it actually favours you. After 4.Kxf2, Black has ...Qf6+ and ...Qxb2 ideas, but your king is safe enough and you have a bishop for two pawns. Keep calm, develop quickly (Nc3, Re1, d3), and the extra material will tell. Do not panic and try to hide the king — just accept the gift and consolidate.
Results across 177,422 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| c6 | 59,159 | 47.6% |
| Nf6 | 38,544 | 46.7% |
| a6 | 20,807 | 49.1% |
| Qf6 | 16,558 | 48.2% |
| Nc6 | 14,563 | 46.9% |
| Bxf2+ | 14,558 | 44.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Portuguese Opening: Bc5 good for beginners?
Yes — it is straightforward to learn and avoids deep theory. The position after 1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Bc5 3.Nf3 is dead level (+0.12), so you can play solid developing moves without worrying about a disadvantage. The low draw rate (3.3%) also means you get fighting positions that improve your practical chess.
What should I do if Black plays 3...c6?
This is Black's best move. Retreat your bishop to a4 (4.Ba4) and, after 4...Nf6, capture the e5 pawn with 5.Nxe5. Black gets some development as compensation, but you keep an extra pawn. Stay calm, castle quickly, and return the material only if you get something better in return.
Why is 3...Nf6 a mistake for Black?
After 3...Nf6, the engine says it costs Black about 0.9 pawns compared to the best move 3...c6. The reason: Black no longer defends the e5 pawn, so you can simply take it with 4.Nxe5. Black's knight on f6 becomes active, but you keep a sound extra pawn.
How do I handle the tricky 3...Bxf2+ sacrifice?
Accept it with 4.Kxf2. Black follows up with checks and queen moves, but your king is not in genuine danger. Develop your pieces (Nc3, d3, Re1) and the extra bishop will outweigh Black's two pawns. Statistically, White scores only 44.5% against this — meaning you win more than half the time from here.