I was looking at common lines for the Berlin Defense. I was wondering why the line below isn't played out, where after 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Bxc3 dxc3 6. Re1 Nf3 7. Rxe5+
I show what I'm talking about on the board below. What's wrong with that line?
Berlin Defence: why not 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Bxc3 dxc3 6. Re1 Nf3 7. Rxe5+?
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As Five said there is nothing really wrong. The position is equal altough personally I rather play black.
In the normal Berlin with the white d-pawn end up on e5 giving white a majority on the kingside as a part of the compensation for losing the bishop pair
In the variations with Re1 the white d-pawn ends up on d4. As a result white does not have a pawn majority only a slight lead in development. The lead in development gives black probably less trouble then stopping the pawn majority.