Bishop's Opening: what to play after Bc4?

In the Bishop's Opening (ECO C23), the modern consensus and engine recommendation is for Black to challenge the center immediately with Nf6. This move attacks the undefended pawn on e4 while developing a minor piece toward the center, yielding an engine evaluation of -0.02. Choosing Nf6 represents Black's most successful approach to neutralizing White's early initiative, making it the most frequent reply in over 2.88 million recorded games.

Counterattacking with Nf6

Opting for Nf6 accounts for 37.7% of the 7,648,687 games recorded at this position. By putting immediate pressure on e4, Black forces White to address the threat rather than dictating the pace of development. An illustrative continuation demonstrating this dynamic is Nf6 Nc3 Bc5 d3 c6 Nf3, where both sides maintain equal chances in an open, flexible game.

Symmetrical and Classical Continuations

Black can also develop classical piece setups, though they allow White a slight statistical edge according to engine evaluations. Developing the queen's knight via Nc6 appears in 27.1% of games (2.07 million recorded, evaluated at +0.18) and often transposes into familiar Italian Game structures, such as in the continuation Nc6 Nf3 Bc5 O-O Nf6 d3. Similarly, the direct symmetrical move Bc5 is seen in 11.3% of games (862K recorded, evaluated at +0.18) and can follow an identical path with Bc5 Nf3 Nc6 O-O Nf6 d3.

Solid Alternatives

More cautious alternatives exist, though they present fewer counterattacking chances. The solid pawn push d6 represents 11.7% of recorded encounters (898K games, evaluated at +0.27), often reaching lines like d6 Nf3 Nf6 Nc3 Be7 d4. Finally, the ambitious central preparation c6 is chosen in 3.4% of games (262K recorded, evaluated at +0.39), where play can proceed with c6 Nc3 Bc5 Qg4 g6 d3.