Ruy Lopez

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The Ruy Lopez, generally called the Spanish Game outside the United States, is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation):

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 variants that in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings all codes from C60 to C99 are assigned to them.

Contents

History

The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest R�y L�pez de Segura (pronounced ROOee LOpeth). He made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Librio del Ajedrez written in 1561 (which also included some more esoteric and unfair suggestions, such as setting up the board so the sun shines in one's opponent's eyes). However, although it is named after him, this particular opening was known earlier; it is included in the G�ttingen manuscript, which dates from 1490. Popular use of the Ruy Lopez opening did not develop, however, until the mid-1800s when 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, and winning 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.

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's convenient to split the possibilities into two groups based on whether Black responds with the Morphy Defence (3...a6). 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...Bc5 (Classical or Cordel Defence)
  • 3...Nge7 (Cozio Defence)
  • 3...Nf6 (Berlin Defence)
  • 3...Nd4 (Bird's Defence)
  • 3...d6 (Steinitz Defence)
  • 3...f5!? (Schliemann Defence)
  • 3...g6 (Smyslov Defence)

Classical Defence

The Classical Defence or Cordel Defence (ECO C64), 3...Bc5, is possibly the oldest defence to the Ruy Lopez, and it is still played occasionally. White's most common reply is 4.c3 when Black may choose to play 4...f5, the Cordel Gambit.

Cozio Defence

The Cozio Defence, 3...Nge7, is distinctly old-fashioned, and is perhaps the least popular of the defences in this section. Bent Larsen used it with success, and it remains one of the least explored variations of the Ruy Lopez.

Berlin Defence

The Berlin Defence (ECO C65�C67), 3...Nf6, is logical and solid, although it can be hard for Black to generate winning chances. Arthur Bisguier played this line for decades, and it was later taken up by Alexei Shirov and other young grandmasters. Vladimir Kramnik used the Berlin Defence as a drawing variation against Garry Kasparov in their 2000 World Championship match. After 4.0-0, Black can play either the solid 4...Nxe4 or the more combative 4...Bc5. After 4...Nxe4 5.d4 (5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nex5 is also reasonable) Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ (8.Qe2?! Nd4! 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 favors Black. After 10.Rd1, Bg4!? 11.Rxd4 Bxe2 gives Black a pleasant endgame.) Kxd8 White is usually considered to have a small advantage in light of his somewhat better pawn structure and Black's awkwardly placed king, but Black, with a solid position and the bishop pair, has excellent drawing chances. Indeed, all four of the games in the Kasparov-Kramnik match with this opening ended in draws.

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 Schackspiels and explored by Henry Bird in the 1850s. Bird's Defence was later used a few times in tournament play by Siegbert Tarrasch and Boris Spassky. 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, Jos� 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.

Schliemann Defence

The Schliemann Defence (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 has not been refuted and 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 variation of the Cordel Defence (3...Bc5 4.c3 f5).

Smyslov Defence

The Smyslov Defence, 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.

Morphy Defence 3...a6

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Morphy Defence 3...a6

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 pin on his queen knight by playing ...b5. In fact, White must take some care to not fall into the Noah's Ark Trap in which Black traps White's king bishop on the b3-square with a ...b5, ...c5, and ...c4 pawn advance on the queenside.

Although 3...a6 was known earlier, it became popular after it was played by Paul Morphy. Steinitz did not approve of this move. In 1889 he wrote "on principle this ought to be disadvantageous as it drives the bishop where it wants to go", but this is not the prevailing opinion, and today 3...a6 is played in over 75% of all games beginning with the Ruy Lopez.

After 3...a6,

  • 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
    • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 (M�ller Defence)
    • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 d6 (Russian Defence)
    • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 (Open Defence)
    • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 (Closed Defence)

Exchange Variation

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Exchange V. after 4...dxc6

In the Exchange Variation, 4.Bxc6, 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! (5...Qg5!?) 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 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."

The flexible 5.O-O 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), or 5...Bd6.

White may also delay the exchange for a move or two: 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O 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), 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. A speculative sacrifice is now 6.Bxf7+?!, 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 M�ller 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 M�ller Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 was already an old line in 1903 when Dane J�rgen M�ller (1873�1944) analyzed it in Tidsskrift f�r Schack. The Graz Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5, was analyzed by Alois Fink (b. 1910) in �sterreichische 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 d6 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.

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 and often leads to sharp positions. White has several options including building an ideal pawn centre with c3 and d4, defending the e-pawn with Re1 or simply developing.

Russian Defence

The Russian Defence 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. The last significant use of the Russian Defence was in the 1950s when it was played by some Russian masters.

Open Defence

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Open Defence after 8...Be6

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 (6...exd4, the Riga Variation, 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)) 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 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 between 9...Nc5, 9...Be7, and the aggressive 9...Bc5. 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, 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, 9.Qe2, White aims for play on the d-file. 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

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Closed Defence after 5...Be7

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,

  • 6.Bxc6 (Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred)
  • 6.d4 (Centre Attack)
  • 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
    • 7... Bb7 (Trajković Variation)
    • 7... d6 8.c3 0-0 (main lines)
    • 7... 0-0 8.c3 d5 (Marshall Attack)
  • 6.Re1 d6 (Averbakh Variation)
  • 6.Qe2 (Worrall Attack)
Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred

The Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred (or Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred), 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.

Trajković Variation

An alternative to 7...d6 is 7...Bb7. This is known as the Trajković Variation. Black may sacrifice a pawn with 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 Nf4.

Main lines
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