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Ruy Lopez
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The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening, Spanish Game or Spanish Torture in English-speaking countries, is a chess opening characterized by the moves:
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bb5
The Ruy Lopez is one of the most popular openings. It has such a vast number of variations that in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings all codes from C60 to C99 are assigned to them.
History
The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ruy Lopez' Start a new discussion about 'Ruy Lopez' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening, Spanish Game or Spanish Torture in English-speaking countries, is a chess opening characterized by the moves:
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bb5
The Ruy Lopez is one of the most popular openings. It has such a vast number of variations that in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings all codes from C60 to C99 are assigned to them.
History
The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura. He made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del Ajedrez written in 1561. However, although it is named after him, this particular opening was known earlier; it is included in the Göttingen manuscript, which dates from around 1490. Popular use of the Ruy Lopez opening did not develop, however, until the mid-1800s when Carl Jaenisch, a Russian theoretician, "rediscovered" its potential. The opening is still in active use as the double king's pawn opening most commonly used in master play; it has been adopted by almost all players at some point in their careers and many play it from both the white and black sides.
Basics
At the most basic level, White's third move attacks the knight which defends the e5 pawn from the attack by the f3 knight. It should be noted that White's apparent threat to win Black's e-pawn with 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5 is illusory — Black can respond with 5...Qd4, forking the knight and e4-pawn, or 5...Qg5, forking the knight and g2-pawn, both of which win back the material with a good position. 3.Bb5 is still a good move, however: it develops a piece, prepares castling, and sets up a potential pin against Black's king. However, since White's third move carries no immediate threat, Black can respond in a wide variety of ways. This opening has been dubbed the "Spanish Torture" because Black has to struggle a long time in order to achieve equality.
Traditionally, White's objective in playing the Ruy Lopez is for the destruction of Black's pawn structure at an early and tender stage in development. Not only does the Ruy Lopez trade double the pawn which takes the White bishop, but it is certain to draw off either the d or b pawns from their positions, either event being highly detrimental to Black's game because if the d pawn is drawn off, Black's attack on the center is handicapped and if the b pawn is drawn off, castling is prevented on that side and the c and a file pawns are left to future exposure. However, White does not always exchange light-squared bishop for queen's knight on c6, but only in the Exchange Variation (ECO C68-C69).
Main variations
The theory of the Ruy Lopez is the most extensively developed of all the double king pawn openings. At nearly every move there are many reasonable alternatives, and most have been explored deeply. It is convenient to split the possibilities into two groups based on whether or not Black responds with (3...a6), which is named the Morphy Defence after Paul Morphy, although he was not the first to play it. The variations with Black moves other than 3...a6 are older and generally simpler, but the Morphy Defence lines are more commonly played.
Black defences other than 3...a6
Of the variations in this section, the Berlin and Schliemann Defences are the most popular today, followed by the Classical Defence.
The Steinitz Defence was important at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
- 3...g6 (Smyslov Defence or Barnes Defence)
- 3...Nge7 (Cozio Defence)
- 3...Nd4 (Bird's Defence)
- 3...d6 (Steinitz Defence)
- 3...f5!? (Schliemann Defence)
- 3...Nf6 (Berlin Defence)
- 3...Bc5 (Classical or Cordel Defence)
Smyslov Defence
The Smyslov Defence, Fianchetto Defence, or Barnes Defence (ECO C60), (3...g6), is a quiet positional system played occasionally by Vassily Smyslov and Boris Spassky.
It became popular in the 1980s when it was shown that 4.c3 a6! gives Black a good game.
Later it was found that after 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 White has the advantage, and the variation is rarely played today.
An interesting gambit line 4.d4 exd4 5.c3 has also been recommended by Alexander Khalifman, although some of the resulting positions are yet to be tested extensively.
Cozio Defence
The Cozio Defence (ECO C60) , 3...Nge7, is distinctly old-fashioned, and is perhaps the least popular of the defences in this section.
Although Bent Larsen used it with success, it remains one of the least explored variations of the Ruy Lopez.
Bird's Defence
Bird's Defence (ECO C61), 3...Nd4, is an uncommon variation sometimes played in the hope of surprising White into making a mistake in unfamiliar positions. With careful play White is thought to be able to gain a small advantage.
This defence was published in 1843 in Paul Rudolf von Bilguer's Handbuch des Schachspiels and explored by Henry Bird in the late 19th century. Bird played it as Black at least 25 times, scoring +9=3-13 (9 wins, 3 draws, 13 losses). Bird's Defence was later used a few times in tournament play by Siegbert Tarrasch, Boris Spassky, and Alexander Khalifman. Although it is still played occasionally as a surprise, no strong master since Bird has adopted it regularly.
Steinitz Defence
The Steinitz Defence (also called the Old Steinitz Defence) (ECO C62), 3...d6, is solid but passive and cramped.
Although the favorite of the first world champion Wilhelm Steinitz and later played by world champions and expert defensive players Emanuel Lasker, José Capablanca, and Vasily Smyslov, it is rarely adopted today. White can force Black to give up the centre (see Tarrasch Trap), a significant but not fatal concession.
The deferred variant of this defence (3...a6 4.Ba4 d6) offers Black better chances and is more popular.
Wilhelm Steinitz played this variation at least 21 times +6=3-12. Frank Marshall and Emanuel Lasker both scored
+4=2-2 as Black. Alexander Onischuk has fared better with +7=2-1 in international play.
Schliemann Defence
The Schliemann Defence or Jaenisch Gambit (ECO C63), 3...f5!?, is a very sharp line in which Black attempts to open the f-file for the attack, frequently sacrificing a pawn or two.
Considered by many to be somewhat dubious, it is occasionally used in top-level play as a surprise weapon.
This variation was originated by Carl Jaenisch in 1847 and is sometimes named after him.
Although later named for German lawyer Adolf Karl Wilhelm Schliemann (1817–1872),
the line Schliemann actually played in the 1860s was a gambit variation of the Cordel Defence (3...Bc5 4.c3 f5).
Rudolf Spielmann played it as Black +6=5-1 as did Frank Marshall +9=8-4. Alexander Shabalov has a plus score in international play. Teimour Radjabov plays it nowadays occasionally at top level with fair results, including a draw against Viswanathan Anand in the Morelia-Linares 2008 tournament.
Classical Defence
The Classical Defence or Cordel Defence (ECO C64), 3...Bc5, is possibly the oldest defence to the Ruy Lopez, and is still played occasionally. White's most common reply is 4.c3 when Black may choose to play 4...f5, the Cordel Gambit. This often leads to quite messy positions and a sharp drop in the number of draws in comparison to other reasonable 4th moves for Black. More solid is 4.c3 Nf6, when 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 Bb6 leads to the Benelux Variation. White's principal alternative to 4.c3 is 4.0-0.
Wilhelm Steinitz scored +5=2-4 in this variation. Boris Gulko plays it. The Australian GM, Ian Rogers, has scored +7=4-1 in international competition.
Berlin Defence
The Berlin Defence 3...Nf6 has a reputation for solidity and drawishness and is sometimes called "the Berlin Wall". White scores 56.3 percent in the Berlin, which equals White's score in the Ruy Lopez in general; but 37 percent of Berlin games end in draws, compared to 30 percent in games played across all openings. The Berlin Defence was played by Emanuel Lasker and others in the late 19th century and early 20th century, who typically answered 4.0-0 with 4...d6 in the style of the Steinitz Variation. This approach ultimately fell out of favour because of its passivity, and the entire variation became rare. Arthur Bisguier played the Berlin for decades, but always chose the variation 4.0-0 Nxe4. Then in 2000, Vladimir Kramnik used the latter line as a drawing weapon against Garry Kasparov in their World Championship match, after which the Berlin enjoyed a remarkable renaissance; even players with a dynamic style such as Alexei Shirov, Veselin Topalov, and Kasparov himself have tried it.
Since Black's third move does not threaten to win the e-pawn (if Black captures it, White will win back the pawn on e5 ), White usually castles kingside. After 4.0-0, Black can play either the solid 4...Nxe4 or the more combative 4...Bc5 (the Berlin Classical Variation). After 4...Nxe4 5.d4 (5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 is also reasonable) Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 White is considered to have a small advantage in light of his somewhat better pawn structure and Black's awkwardly placed king. However, Black possesses the bishop pair and his position has no weaknesses, so it is difficult for White to generate real pressure. Indeed, all four of the games in the Kasparov–Kramnik match with this opening ended in draws.
The Berlin is assigned ECO codes C65–67. C65 covers alternatives to 4.0-0, as well as 4.0-0 Bc5. C66 covers 4.0-0 d6 while C67 is 4.0-0 Nxe4.
Morphy Defence 3...a6: alternatives to the Closed Defence
By far the most commonly played Black third move is the Morphy Defence, 3...a6, which "puts the question" to the white bishop.
White has only two good options, 4.Bxc6 or 4.Ba4.
The main point to 3...a6 is that after the common retreat 4.Ba4, Black will have the possibility of breaking the eventual pin on his queen knight by playing ...b5.
In fact, White must take some care not to fall into the Noah's Ark Trap in which Black traps White's king bishop on the b3-square with a ...a6, ...b5, and ...c4 pawn advance on the queenside.
Ercole del Rio, in his 1750 treatise Sopra il giuoco degli Scacchi, Osservazioni practice d’anonimo Autore Modense (On the game of Chess, practical Observations by an anonymous Modenese Author), was the first author to mention 3...a6. However, the move became popular after it was played by Paul Morphy, and it is named for him. Steinitz did not approve of the move. In 1889 he wrote "on principle this ought to be disadvantageous as it drives the bishop where it wants to go". Steinitz' opinion is not the prevailing opinion, and today 3...a6 is played in over 75 percent of all games beginning with the Ruy Lopez.
After 3...a6, the most commonly played line is the Closed Defence, which goes 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7, discussed in the two following sections. Alternatives to the closed defence described in this section are:
- 4.Bxc6 (Exchange Variation)
- 4.Ba4
- 4...b5 5.Bb3 Na5 (Norwegian Defence)
- 4...b5 5.Bb3 Bc5 (Graz Defence)
- 4...Bc5 (Classical Defence Deferred)
- 4...d6 (Steinitz Defence Deferred)
- 4...f5 (Schliemann Defence Deferred)
- 4...Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 (Arkhangelsk Defence)
- 4...Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 (Modern Archangel Defence)
- 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 (Mřller Defence)
- 4...Nf6 5.0-0 d6 (Russian Defence)
- 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 (Open Defence)
Exchange Variation
In the Exchange Variation, 4.Bxc6, (ECO C68-C69) White damages Black's pawn structure, giving him a ready-made long-term plan of swapping off the pieces and winning the pawn ending. Black has decent compensation, however, in the form of the bishop pair, and the variation is not considered White's most ambitious, though former world champions Emanuel Lasker and Bobby Fischer were quite successful with it.
After 4.Bxc6, Black almost always responds 4...dxc6, although 4...bxc6 is playable. After 4...dxc6, the obvious 5.Nxe5? is weak, since 5...Qd4! 6.Nf3 Qxe4+ 7.Qe2 Qxe2+ leaves White with no compensation for Black's bishop pair.
There are two principal lines after 4.Bxc6 dxc6. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Lasker had great success with 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4. Since then, better lines for Black have been developed, and this line is considered to slightly favor Black. Jon Jacobs wrote in the July 2005 Chess Life (p. 21): "A database search (limited to games longer than 20 moves, both players FIDE 2300+) reveals the position after 7.Nxd4 was reached 20 times from 1985-2002. White's results were abysmal: +0-7=13." Max Euwe gives the pure pawn ending in this position as a win for White.
The flexible 5.0-0 is sometimes called the Barengdt Variation, but it was Fischer who developed it into a serious weapon for White. Unlike 5.d4, it forces Black to defend his e-pawn, which he usually does with 5...f6, 5...Bg4, 5...Qd6 (the sharpest line, preparing queen-side castling), 5...Qe7, 5...Qf6 or 5...Bd6. A rare but playable move is 5...Be6 (or 5...Be7), the idea being that if white plays 6.Nxe5, black plays 6... Qd4, forking the knight and the e4 pawn. The move ...Qd4 is usually not possible in these variations after White castles because when the queen captures the e4 pawn, the rook can usually move to e1 to pin and win the queen. However, with 5...Be6, Re1 will not win the queen because the e6 bishop breaks the pin.
White may also delay the exchange for a move or two: 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 and only now 6.Bxc6 (the Delayed Exchange Deferred), for example; at first glance this seems like a simple waste of time, but Black having played ...Nf6 rules out defending the pawn with ...f6, and the bishop already being on e7 means that ...Bd6 would be a loss of tempo.
Norwegian Defence
The Norwegian Defence (also called the Wing Variation) (ECO C70), is an aggressive but time-consuming alternative for Black. The game follows 3...a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Na5. The goal of the opening is to eliminate the white bishop. The main line is 6. 0-0 d6 7. d4 Nxb3, but speculative sacrifice is 6.Bxf7+?! Kxf7 7. Nxe5+, which drives the black king out, but with accurate play, Black is supposed to be able to consolidate his extra piece.
This defence was known since the 1880s and was reintroduced in 1901 by Carl Schlechter.
Variations combining 3...a6 and ...Bc5
The Graz Defence, Classical Defence Deferred, and Mřller Defence combine 3...a6 with the active move ...Bc5.
For a century it was believed that it was more sound for Black to place the bishop on e7, but it is much more active on c5.
White can gain time after playing d4 as the black bishop will have to move, but this doesn't always seem to be as important as was once thought.
The Mřller Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 was already an old line in 1903 when Dane Jřrgen Mřller (1873–1944) analyzed it in Tidsskrift för Schack.
The Graz Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5, was analyzed by Alois Fink (b. 1910) in Österreichische Schachzeitung in 1956 and in Wiener Schach Nachrichten in 1979, but although logical it didn't become popular until the 1990s.
Steinitz Defence Deferred
In the Steinitz Defence Deferred (also called the Modern Steinitz Defence or the Neo-Steinitz Defence) (ECO C72–C76), Black interpolates 3...a6 4.Ba4 before playing 4...d6.
The possibility of breaking the pin with a timely ...b5 gives Black more latitude than in the Steinitz Defence itself.
In particular, in the Steinitz Defence White can practically force Black to give up the centre with ...exd4, but in the Steinitz Deferred, Black can hold the centre if desired.
Most of the plausible White moves are playable here, including 5.c3, 5.c4, 5.Bxc6, 5.d4, and 5.0-0.
The sharp Siesta Variation arises after 5.c3 f5, while a manoeuvering game results from the calmer 5.c3 Bd7 6.d4.
The game is also sharp after 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.d4 or 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5.
The older lines starting with 5.c4 and 5.d4 are not as testing for Black.
Keres scored +24=25-2 as Black with this opening.
There are six ECO classifications for the Modern Steinitz. The White's responses, 5.d4, 5.Nc3, and 5.c4 are included in C71, while 5.0-0 is C72. The delayed exchange 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.d4 is C73. C74–C76 all begin with 5.c3. C74 covers 5...Nf6 but primarily focuses on 5...f5 6.exf5 Bxf5 with 7.d4 or 7.0-0. C75's main continuation is 5...Bd7 6.d4 Nge7, the Rubenstein Variation. C76 is characterized by the Black kingside fianchetto 5...Bd7 6.d4 g6.
Schliemann Defence Deferred
The Schliemann Defence Deferred, 3...a6 4.Ba4 f5, is not as popular as the regular Schliemann Defence.
It is considered inferior to the regular Schliemann, since White can answer effectively with 5.d4! exd4 6.e5.
Arkhangelsk Defence
The Arkhangelsk Defence (or Archangel Defence) (ECO C78) was invented by Soviet theoreticians in the city of Arkhangelsk. The variation begins 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7. It often leads to sharp positions, in which Black hopes that the b7 Bishop's influence on the center and White kingside will offset Black's delay in castling. White has several options including attempting to build an ideal pawn centre with c3 and d4, defending the e-pawn with Re1 or simply developing. The Arkhangelsk Defence is tactically justified by Black's ability to meet 7.Ng5 with 7...d5 8.exd5 Nd4! (not 8...Nxd5, when white can seize the advantage with 9.Qh5 g6 10.Qf3).
Russian Defence
The Russian Defence (ECO C79) can be considered a delayed Steinitz Defence Deferred.
With the move order 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 d6, Black waits until White castles before playing ...d6.
This can enable Black to avoid some lines in the Steinitz Defence Deferred in which White castles long although the position of the knight on f6 also precludes Black from supporting the centre with f7-f6.
These nuances seem to have little importance today as neither the Steinitz Defence Deferred nor the Russian Defence have been popular for many years.
Chigorin played the Russian Defence in the 1890s, and later it was adopted by Rubinstein.
Alekhine had a lifetime score of +7=4-1 from the black side.
The last significant use of the Russian Defence was in the 1950s when it was played by some Russian masters.
Open Defence
In the Open Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4, Black tries to make use of the time White will take to regain the pawn to gain a foothold in the centre. Play usually continues 6.d4 b5. The Riga Variation, 6...exd4, is considered inferior; the main line runs 7.Re1 d5 8.Nxd4 Bd6! 9.Nxc6 Bxh2+! 10.Kh1! (10.Kxh2 Qh4+ 11.Kg1 Qxf2+ draws by perpetual check.) Qh4 11.Rxe4+! dxe4 12.Qd8+! Qxd8 13.Nxd8+ Kxd8 14.Kxh2 Be6 (14...f5?? 15.Bg5#!) and now the endgame is considered to favor White after 15.Be3 or Nd2 (but not 15.Nc3 c5!, playing to trap the bishop). After 6...b5, 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 usually follows and material balance is restored.
White has a variety of options at move 9, including 9.c3, 9.Qe2, and 9.Nbd2.
The classical line starts with 9.c3 when Black can choose among 9...Nc5, 9...Be7, and the aggressive 9...Bc5.
Euwe scored +13=17–5 with 9...Be7.
After 9.c3 Bc5 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 Black must do something about the attack on the knight on e4.
An old continuation is 11...f5, when after 12.Nb3 Ba7 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 White can gain some advantage with Bogoljubov's 15.Qxd4.
Instead, the very sharp La Grande Variante continues 15.cxd4 f4 16.f3 Ng3 17.hxg3 fxg3 18.Qd3 Bf5 19.Qxf5 Rxf5 20.Bxf5 Qh4 21.Bh3 Qxd4+ 22.Kh1 Qxe5.
Perhaps the most famous game in this variation is Smyslov–Reshevsky, 1945 USSR–USA Radio Match. An analysis of the line had just been published in a Russian chess magazine, and Smyslov was able to follow it to quickly obtain a winning position.
Reshevsky had not seen the analysis and he struggled in vain to solve the position over the board with his chess clock running.
The Dilworth Variation (or Attack), 11...Nxf2 12.Rxf2 f6 13.exf6 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Qxf6 has scored well for Black. It leads to unbalanced endgames that are hard to play for both sides. Yusupov is one of the few grandmasters to often adopt the Dilworth.
In the Howell Attack (ECO C81), 9.Qe2, White aims for play on the d-file after Rd1.
The game usually continues 9...Be7 10.Rd1 followed by 10...Nc5 or 10...0-0.
Keres sometimes played this line.
Karpov's move, 9.Nbd2, limits Black's options.
In the 1978 Karpov–Korchnoi World Chess Championship match, following 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 d4 (10...Be7 is an old move that remains popular) Karpov introduced the surprising 11.Ng5!?, a move suggested by his trainer, Igor Zaitsev.
If Black takes the knight with 11...Qxg5 White regains the material with 12.Qf3.
This variation played a decisive role in a later World Championship match, Kasparov–Anand 1995, when Anand was unable to successfully defend as Black.
Closed Defence 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7: Alternatives to the main line
In the main line, White normally retreats his bishop with 4.Ba4, when the usual continuation is 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Be7.
Black now threatens to win a pawn with 6...b5 followed by 7...Nxe4, so White must respond.
Usually White defends the e-pawn with 6.Re1 which in turn threatens Black with the loss of a pawn after 7.Bxc6 and 8.Nxe5.
Black most commonly averts this threat by driving away the white bishop with 6...b5 7.Bb3, although it is also possible to defend the pawn with 6...d6.
After 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Be7, the most frequently seen continuation is 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0, discussed in the next section.
Examined in this section are the alternatives to the main line:
- 6.Bxc6 (Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred)
- 6.d4 (Centre Attack)
- 6.Qe2 (Worrall Attack)
- 6.Re1 d6 (Averbakh Variation)
- 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
- 7... Bb7 (Trajkovic Variation)
- 7... 0-0 8.c3 d5 (Marshall Attack)
Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred
The Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred (or Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred) (ECO C85), 6.Bxc6, loses a tempo compared to the Exchange Variation.
As compensation, the black knight on f6 and bishop on e7 are not on their best squares.
The knight on f6 prevents Black from supporting the e-pawn with f7-f6, and the bishop is somewhat passively posted on e7.
Centre Attack
The Centre Attack (or Centre Variation) (ECO C69), 6.d4, leads to sharp play.
Black can hold the balance, but it is easy to make a misstep.
Worrall Attack
In the Worrall Attack (ECO C86), White substitutes 6.Qe2 for 6.Re1. The idea is that the queen will support the e-pawn leaving the rook free to move to d1 to support the advance of the d-pawn, although there isn't always time for this. Play normally continues 6..b5 7.Bb3 followed by 7...d6 or 7...0-0.
Paul Keres played the line several times. More recently, Sergei Tiviakov has played it, as has Nigel Short, who played it twice in his 1992 match against Anatoly Karpov and won both games.
Averbakh Variation
In the Averbakh Variation (C87), named for Yuri Averbakh, Black defends the threatened e-pawn with 6...d6 instead of driving away the white bishop with the more common 6...b5.
This defence shares some similarity with the Modern Steinitz and Russian Defences as Black avoids the ...b5 advance that weakens the queenside a bit, but in exchange gives up the chance to gain space on the flank.
White can reply with either 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.d4 or 7.c3 Bg4 (it is too late for Black to transpose into the more usual lines of the Closed Defence, because 7...b5 would allow 8.Bc2, saving White a tempo over the two-move sequence Bb3-c2 found in other variations).
The pin temporarily prevents White from playing d2-d4.
In response, White can either force d4 with 8.h3 Bh5 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.d4, or postpone d4 for the time being and play 8.d3 followed by manoeuvering the queen knight to the kingside with Nbd2-f1-g3.
Trajkovic Variation
An alternative to 7...d6 is 7...Bb7. This is known as the Trajkovic Variation. Black may sacrifice a pawn with 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 Nf4.
Marshall Attack
One of Black's more aggressive alternatives is the Marshall Attack: after 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 Black plays the gambit 8...d5, sacrificing a pawn. The main line begins with 9.exd5 Nxd5 (9...e4?!, the Herman Steiner variation, is considered weaker) 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 (Marshall's original move, 11...Nf6, and 11...Bb7 are considered inferior, but have also yielded good results at top levels of play for Black). Black will attack and force weaknesses in White's kingside which has been stripped of defenders. White's first decision is whether to play d3 or d4. In either case it is apparent that the move 8.c3 is no longer helpful to White. The Black attack can be quite treacherous for White. Since Black's compensation is based on positional rather than tactical considerations, it is difficult or perhaps impossible to find a refutation, and variations have been analyzed very deeply (sometimes to move 30) without coming to a definite determination over the soundness of Black's gambit. The Marshall Attack is a very sharp, tactical opening system, and so White often chooses to avoid it by playing one of the anti-Marshall systems, 8.a4 or 8.h3 instead of 8.c3.
The Marshall Attack was introduced by Frank Marshall in a famous game against José Capablanca in 1918. In that game, Capablanca weathered the Black attack and won brilliantly.
According to legend, Marshall saved this prepared innovation for eight years before getting the chance to play it against Capablanca. This seems unlikely in reality, however, and in fact the gambit had been played earlier in a few obscure games including a consultation game in Havana, with Marshall himself playing 8...d5 a year earlier against Walter Frere.
Improvements to Black's play were found (Marshall played 11...Nf6!? originally, but later discovered 11...c6!) and the Marshall Attack was adopted by top players including Boris Spassky, and more recently Michael Adams.
Closed Defence, main line: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0
The main lines of the closed Ruy Lopez continue 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0.
White can now play 9.d3 or 9.d4, but by far the most common move is 9.h3 which prepares d4 while preventing the awkward pin ...Bg4.
This can be considered the main line of the opening as a whole and thousands of top-level games have reached this position.
White aims to play d4 followed by Nbd2-f1-g3, which would firmly support e4 with the bishops on open diagonals and both knights threatening Black's kingside.
Black will try to prevent this knight manoeuver by expanding on the queenside, taking action in the centre, or putting pressure on e4.
After 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0, we have:
- 9.d3 (Pilnik Variation)
- 9.d4 Bg4 (Bogoljubow Variation)
- 9.h3
- 9...Na5 (Chigorin Variation)
- 9...Bb7 (Zaitsev Variation)
- 9...Nb8 (Breyer Variation)
- 9...Nd7 (Karpov Variation)
- 9...Be6 (Kholmov Variation)
- 9...h6 (Smyslov Variation)
Pilnik Variation
The Pilnik Variation, named for Herman Pilnik, is also known as the Teichmann Variation from the game Teichmann–Schlechter, Carlsbad 1911.
White plays 9.d3 intending to later advance to d4 under favorable circumstances.
Although d2-d3-d4 appears to lose a tempo compared to d2-d4, White may be able to omit h3 regaining the tempo, especially if Black plays ...Bb7.
Bogoljubow Variation
The Bogoljubow Variation is the reason why White usually plays 9.h3 instead of 9.d4.
After 9.d4 Bg4, the pin of the white king knight is troublesome.
The variation takes its name from the game Capablanca–Bogoljubow, London 1922.
Chigorin Variation
The Chigorin Variation was refined by Mikhail Chigorin around the turn of the 20th century and became the primary Black defence to the Ruy Lopez for more than 50 years.
With 9...Na5 Black chases the white bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal and frees the c-pawn for queenside expansion.
After 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 the classical Black follow up is 11...Qc7, reinforcing e5 and placing the queen on the c-file which may later become open after ...cxd4.
Other Black moves in this position are 11...Bb7 and 11...Nd7; the latter was adopted by Keres a few times in the 1960s.
The Chigorin Variation has declined in popularity because Black must spend some time bringing his offside knight on a5 back into the game.
The Chigorin is divided into three ECO classifications. In C97, White proceeds from the diagram with 12.a4, 12.d5, 12.b4 , or 12.Nbd2 where Black can respond with ...Be6, ...Rd8, ...Re8, ...Bb7 or ...Bd7. In C98, White opens up the board with 12.Nbd2 Nc6 13.dxc5 dxc5. In C99, Black initiates the exchanges with 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4.
Breyer Variation
The Breyer Variation was supposedly suggested by Gyula Breyer in an unpublished manuscript in the 1920s, but no such document has been discovered and there are no known game scores in which Breyer employed this line.
It is unclear how Breyer's name came to be associated with this variation, but the terminology is well established.
The Breyer Variation did not become popular until the 1960s when it was adopted by Spassky and others.
In particular, Spassky's back to back wins over Tal at Tbilisi in 1965 did much to enhance its reputation, and Spassky has a career plus score with the Breyer.
With 9...Nb8 Black frees the c-pawn and intends to route the knight to d7 where it supports e5.
Black can follow up with ...Bb7 and ...c7-c5. White can attack either the kingside or the queenside.
If White fortifies the center with 10.d3 the opening is given ECO code C94.
The more common continuation, 10.d4, is ECO C95.
Zaitsev Variation
The Zaitsev Variation (also called the Flohr-Zaitsev Variation) was advocated by Igor Zaitsev, who was one of Karpov's trainers for many years.
A Karpov favourite, the Zaitsev remains one of the most important variations of the Ruy Lopez.
With 9...Bb7 Black prepares to put more pressure on e4 after 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 when play can become very sharp and tactical.
One drawback of this line is that White can force Black to choose a different defence or allow a draw by repetition of position with 11.Ng5 Rf8 12.Nf3.
Although forcing an early draw with White is often considered not very sporting, several of Karpov's opponents took advantage of this opportunity.
Karpov Variation
Karpov tried 9...Nd7 several times in the 1990 World Championship match, but Kasparov achieved a significant advantage against it in the 18th game.
It is solid but slightly passive.
Confusingly 9...Nd7 is also called the Chigorin Variation so there are two variations of the Ruy Lopez with that name, but 9...Na5 is the move more commonly associated with Chigorin.
Kholmov Variation
The Kholmov Variation, 9...Be6, was popular in the 1980s but is now rarely played.
Smyslov Variation
The Smyslov Variation (ECO C93) is a plan similar to that of the Zaitsev Variation. With 9...h6 Black prepares to play 10...Re8 and 11...Bf8 without fear of 10.Ng5. The loss of a tempo with 9...h6 gives White enough time to complete the Nbd2-f1-g3 manoeuver, and the pawn move can also weaken Black's kingside. The Zaitsev can be considered to be an improved Smyslov in which Black tries to save a tempo by omitting ...h6.
Kasparov played the Smyslov Variation in a loss to the Deep Blue chess computer in Game 2 of their 1997 match. Svetozar Gligoric has been the most prolific C93 player.
Uncommon Black 3rd moves
Here is a list of less common 3rd moves for Black:
- Bulgarian Variation: 3... a5
- Rotary Defense or Albany Defense: 3... b6
- Pollock's Defense: 3... Na5
- Retreat Variation: 3... Nb8
- Sawyer's Gambit: 3... d5
- Vinogradov Variation: 3... Qe7
- Lucena Defense: 3... Be7
- Alapin's Defense: 3... Bb4
- Nuremberg Defense: 3... f6
- Brentano Defense: 3... g5
See also
Further reading
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