4/10/2017 SpanishTorture?

TheRuyLopez|ExeterChessClub

SpanishTorture?TheRuyLopez
SubmittedbyDrDave(/users/drdave)onTue,31/08/201020:11

TableofContents[show(#)]

Introduction*(#_Toc443319781)

TheIdeasbehindtheRuyLopez*(#_Toc443319782)

SomeKeyVariationsoftheRuyLopez*(#_Toc443319783)

VariationsoftheRuyLopezwithout3...a6*(#_Toc443319784)

Strongpointlineswith...d6,...Nge7and/or...g6.*(#_Toc443319785)

Activelineswith...Bc5and/or...Nf6*(#_Toc443319786)

Makeamesswith3...Nd4*(#_Toc443319787)

VariationsoftheRuyLopezwith3...a6*(#_Toc443319788)

TheExchangeVariation*(#_Toc443319789)

TheClosedMorphyDefence*(#_Toc443319790)

TheTchigorinCounterattack*(#_Toc443319791)

ModernvariationsintheClosedMorphy.*(#_Toc443319792)

Indexofgames:*(#_Toc443319793)

Bibliography*(#_Toc443319794)

Introduction
TheSpanishpriestRuyLopez,whowasthestrongestplayerofhisday,describedin
the1500stheopeningwhichnowbearshisname.Atleast,theBritishandAmericans
knowitastheRuyLopez:inEuropetheyaremorelikelytocallittheSpanishGame,
andTartakowerwrylyreferredtoitasSpanishTorture.(BecauseIwasbroughtupin
EastAngliaandnotSpain,Idescribeditforyearsasthe"RoyalOpez",butIbelieveitis
properlypronouncedmorelike"ReeLop'eth".)

ItremainsthemostimportantoftheKing'ssideopenings,andisstillgenerally
consideredthebestwaytokeepWhite'sinitiativegoingafter1...e5.Itisnoaccident
thatmostofthegamesinBronstein'sbook"200OpenGames"beginwiththeRuy
Lopezopening.

TheideasforeachsideintheRuyLopezareverymanyandvaried;Ihopebelowto
introducesomeofthebasicconceptsandgiveyousomelandmarksforyourown
explorationofthisneopening.

TherstfewmovesoftheRuyLopezopeningareeasytofollow:1.e4e52.Nf3Nc6is
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TherstfewmovesoftheRuyLopezopeningareeasytofollow:1.e4e52.Nf3Nc6is
verynatural.Themovesoftenplayedbyjuniorshere,3.Bc4and3.d4,arealsoeasyto
understand,butmaynotbethestrongest.3.d4,theScotchOpening,leadstoanearly
clashbutperhapsalsoanearlysimplication,withalossoftensionandthuswinning
chancesforbothsides.TheItaliangamewith3.Bc4,hittingf7andhopingtodeter
...d5,paradoxicallyratherinvites...d7d5andanearlyexchangeinthecentre,with
equality.Thisisbecausethelogicalfollowup3.Bc4Bc54.c3Nf6,resultsinBlack
regainingcontrolofthed5point.

TheRuyLopezmove,3.Bb5,keepstheideaoftakingoverthecentrewithd2d4(or
withc2c3andd2d4),butrstdoesanumberofimportantotherjobs.Likeinthe
ItalianGame,theBishopclearsthewayforWhitetocastle,andthenplayRf1e1.But
onb5ratherthanc4theBishopcannotbehitby...d7d5.IfBlackdoesevermovethe
dPawn,thehalfpinoftheKnightonc6becomesafullpin,underminingBlack's
controlofe5andd4.

Intheshorttermthereisanimmediatethreat:theBishopattackstheKnightthat
defendsthepawnattackedbytheKnight(thehousethatRuybuilt).Itwouldbegreat
forWhiteifitworkedsosimply,butafter3...(pass);4Bxc6,dxc6!5Nxe5?!Qd4!
Blackwillregainhispawnthroughthedoubleattack.So,theimmediatethreattothe
Pawnisn'tquitesodeadly,butonceWhitehascastledand/orprotectedtheePawn
thethreatwillbecomereal.Also,thePawnone5isaloteasiertogetatthantheone
onf7,andBlackcangetbadlytieduporjuststiandcrampedtryingtoholdontoa
shareofthecentre.

TheothertacticalpointtonoteisthatthecounterattackbyBlackone4by...Nf6can
bemetbyWhitecastling,sinceafter...Nf6xe4WhitehasRf1e1:ifWhitedoesnotwin
apiece,itisatleastoftenawkwardforBlacktogettheKing'ssidesorted.So:1.e4e5
2.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.OO!Nxe45.d4!andWhitehasanedge.

Themostnaturalsequenceofmovestryingtoholdontoe5leadstotroubleforBlack:
after1e4,e5;2Nf3,Nc6;3Bb5,d6;4d4,Bd7;5Nc3,Nf6;600,Be7;7Re1,exd4;
8Nxd4,OO;9Bf1!(tostoptheexchangesthreatenedby9...Nxd4)whenBlackhas
lotsofpiecesbutnotenoughspace.

WhydoesBlackplay7...exd4whenIsaidtheideaistoholdoninthecentre?
Tarrasch'sfamoustrapshowedthatBlackcannotplay7...00becauseoftheforcing
continuation8.Bxc6Bxc69.dxe5dxe510.Qxd8Raxd8[10...Rfxd8allows15Kf1see
later11.Nxe5Bxe412.Nxe4Nxe413.Nd3f514.f3Bc5+15.Kf1]11.Nxe5Bxe4[11...Nxe4
12.Nxc6]12.Nxe4Nxe413.Nd3f514.f3Bc5+15.Nxc5[15.Kf1Bb616.fxe4fxe4+;
15.Kh1Nf2+16.Nxf2Bxf217.Rf1]15...Nxc516.Bg5Rd5[16...Rde817.Be7]17.Be7Re8
18.c4winningtheexchange.(Ifinstead10...Rexd8Whitewouldhave15Kh1
(15...Rxd3;16fxe4).)TarraschwonagamewiththisagainstMarcoAFTERpublishingit
asanalysis!(Ifinstead10...Rexd8Whitewouldhave15Kh1(15...Rxd3;16fxe4).)

TheselineshadastrongeectonplayerswhostartedtorealisejusthowgoodtheRuy
Lopezis.TheGiuocoPianoisagreatopeningforyourearlychessyears;theRuyLopez
isanopeningforlife.

Blackhasmanylines,whichfallintobasicallytwoapproaches(asusual):defenceor
counterattack.Defenceofthestrongpointate5wehavelookedatwith3...d6,the
SteinitzDefence,(or3...a6;4Ba4,d6,theDeferredSteinitzDefence),butwehaveseen
thatthepointcannotbeheldforlong;counterattackmaybeattemptedwith3...Nf6,
theBerlinDefence,or3...a6;4Ba4,Nf6;theMorphyDefence.TheMorphymove3...a6
wasanimportantrenementofBlack'sresources,makingtheBishopchooseits
diagonalandallowingthepinbreaking...b5.ReubenFinegivesaninstructive
comparisonofvariationswithandwithout...a6:

InreplytotheMorphytheobvious5Nc3isratherboring,butWhitecanplay5OO
since,aswehaveseen,Blackcannotreallywinthee4pawn.TheMorphyhasitselfa
strongpointline,5OO,Be7;6Re1,b5;7Bb3,d6,theClosedMorphyDefence,anda
counterattackingline,5OO,Nxe4;6d4,b5;7Bb3,d5,theOpenMorphyDefence.
Thesearesystemsofgreatrichness,andtheClosedMorphybestavoideduntilyour
chessunderstandingiswelladvanced.

TheIdeasbehindtheRuyLopez
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TheIdeasbehindtheRuyLopez
Whiteplaysforanimmediatebreakinthecentre
5d4or5Qe2(ideaOOandRd1)or5.Qe2/6.Qe2leadtomorefamiliaropenand
attackingepawnstylesofgame.Anexample:1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4
Nf65.d4exd46.OOBe77.Re1b58.Bb3d69.Bd5Nxd510.exd5Ne511.Nxd4
OO

Thisisabouteven,and,Ihope,agamejuniorswouldenjoyplayingaseithercolour;
thesevariationsareagoodintroductiontotheRuyLopez.

Blackplaysforanimmediatebreakinthecentre
ThisisprobablyagoodwaytoplaytheRuyforBlackinyourearlycareer.TheOpen
MorphyDefencereliesaboveallonpieceactivity,andobeystwogoodgeneralopening
rulesforBlack:

(a)IfyouropponentletsyoutakeacentralPawn,takeitoifyoudonotloseapiece
(viz.1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Nxe4andnowafter6.Re1Blackisin
nopin,so6...Nc5or6...Nd6arequiteallright.)

(b)Aimtoplay...d5yourselfifyoucan

GrandmastertheorysuggeststhatBlackistakingonratheralotofweaknesseswhen
playingthisway,butthatmaynotbesoimportantifyouarenotplaying
Grandmasters.SiegbertTarrasch,whowassoeectiveplayingtheRuyasWhite,
preferredtoplaythiswayasBlack,andsincethenMaxEuwe,VictorKortchnoi,Artur
Yusupov,JanTimmanandViswanathanAnandhaveallbeenhappytoplaytheOpen
MorphyatWorldChampionshipandCandidates'level,soyoucanseethatthisisnot
verymuchofahandicap.

TheveteranEnglishplayerVernonDilworthsuggestedthemostaggressivewayof
playingtheOpenMorphyasBlack:

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Nxe46.d4b57.Bb3d58.dxe5Be69.c3Bc5
10.Nbd20011.Bc2Nxf2

BlacksacricestwoactivepiecesforaRookwhileWhiteisstillgettingtheQueen's
sideorganised.Blackwillfollowupwith...f6,attackingdownthefle.

Blackcanplaymorecalmlyatmove11(11...Bf5isfashionablesinceKortchnoiadopted
it),orearlierplay9...Be7(Euwe'spreference)or9...Nc5(Kortchnoi'sotherpreference).
Theselinesareallrathercomplexandthereisalotoftheoryonthem,butuntilyour
opponentsknowallthetheory,getstuckin!

Thereareseveralotherlineswhereweseeanearly...d5byBlack:

...d5intheMarshallGambit,afavouriteofclubplayers:1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6
4.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3008.c3d59.exd5Nxd510.Nxe5Nxe511.Rxe5
c6,e.g.12.d4Bd613.Re1Qh414.g3Qh315.Be3Bg416.Qd3Rae817.Nd2f518.f4
Kh819.Bxd5cxd520.Qf1Qh521.Qg2Re422.a4bxa423.Rxa4g524.Nxe4fxe4
25.Rxa6gxf426.Rxd6fxe327.Rxe3Bh328.g4Qxg429.Rg3Qd1+01,Kosten
Hebden,1982.
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...d5inthenormalClosedMorphy:e.g.Kasparov,G(2800)Karpov,A(2730)[C92]
Wch35KK5USA/FRA(NewYork)(8),19901.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.0
0Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Nd710.d4Bf611.a4Bb712.Be3Na513.Bc2
Nc414.Bc1d5!TN

...d5intheClassicalDefence:1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Bc54.c3d5?!!Ormoresanely,
UnzickerFischerLeipzig19601.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Bc54.c3Nf65.d4Bb66.00
007.Re1exd48.cxd4d59.e5Ne410.Nc3Bg411.Bxc6bxc612.Nxe4dxe413.Rxe4
Bxf314.Qxf3Bxd415.Be3Bxb216.Rb1f517.exf6

AndwhereverelseWhiteisslack,e.g.1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.Nc3or
5.d3whenBlackshouldgetcastledandlookfor...d7d5.Tiviakov,S(2625)Sokolov,I
(2665)[C86]Wijk(10),19961.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.Qe2Be76.c300
7.00b58.Bb3d59.d3Re810.Re1h611.Nbd2Be612.Nf1Bc513.Ng3a5(...01,41),

White'soutpostond5
TalBronstein[C96]1956

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Na5
10.Bc2c511.d4Nc612.Nbd2Qb613.dxc5dxc514.Nf1Be615.Ne3Rad816.Qe2g6
17.Ng5c4!18.a4Kg719.axb5axb520.Rb1Na521.Nf3Qc7

EveryWhitepieceisqueuingupbehindtheepawn,waitingfor...

22.Nd5!22...Bxd523.exd5

White'spiecescontrolmanycentralsquares,andtheBishopshavenewavenuesof
attack.

23...Rfe824.Qxe5Qxe525.Nxe5Nxd526.Ra1Nb327.Bxb3cxb328.Bh6+!28...Kg8?!
29.Nc6Rc830.Rad1Rxc631.Rxd5f632.Rxb5g533.Rxb3Kf734.Rb7Re635.Rxe6Kxe6
36.h4Rg837.f4Bc5+38.Kf1gxh439.Rb5Rc840.f5+Kd641.b4h342.Rxc5h243.Bf4+
10

White'soutpostonf5
ThisisasimplewaytoplayallcloseddoubleKing'sPawnpositions:parkaKnightonf5
andplayforaKing'ssideattack.

Teichmann,RSchlechter,C[C90]Karlsbad,1911

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.d3

Whiteplaysquietlyinthecentre,hopingtoavoiddistractionsthere.

9...Na510.Bc2c511.Nbd2Qc712.Nf1Nc613.Ne3Bb714.Nf5Rfe815.Bg5Nd716.Bb3
Nb617.Bxe7Nxe718.Bxf7+Kxf719.Ng5+Kg820.Qh5Nxf521.Qxh7+Kf822.Qxf5+Kg8
23.Qg6Qd724.Re310

White'scentralplay
YoushouldneverforgetthatoneofthekeyaimsforWhiteintheePawnopeningsisto
takeoverthecentrewithc3andd4.IfBlacktakeshiseyeotheballWhitecanswitch
tothisplanwitheect,andinfactWhitecanwinalotofgamesthroughsimple
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tothisplanwitheect,andinfactWhitecanwinalotofgamesthroughsimple
dominationofthecentre.Morespaceandmoremanoeuvrabilitymeanschancesof
attack:

Fischer,RBarczay,L[C95]SousseiztRd:1,1967

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Nb8
10.d4Nbd7

11.Nh4exd412.cxd4Nb613.Nf3d514.e5Ne415.Nbd2Nxd216.Bxd2Bf517.Bc2Bxc2
18.Qxc2Rc819.b3Nd720.e6fxe621.Rxe6c522.Ba5Qxa523.Rxe7Qd824.Ng510

White'sKing'ssideattack
TheBishopthatlurksonc2isanaceupWhite'ssleeve:whileBlackisdistracted
elsewhereWhitecansuddenlywhipoutaKing'ssideattack.Agloriousexampleofthis
was:

Kasparov,G(2800)Karpov,A(2730)[C92](20),1990

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Bb7
10.d4Re811.Nbd2Bf812.a4h613.Bc2exd414.cxd4Nb415.Bb1c516.d5Nd717.Ra3f5
18.Rae3Nf619.Nh2Kh820.b3bxa421.bxa4c422.Bb2fxe423.Nxe4

23...Nfxd524.Rg3Re625.Ng4Qe826.Nxh6c327.Nf5cxb228.Qg4Bc829.Qh4+Rh6
30.Nxh6gxh631.Kh2Qe532.Ng5Qf633.Re8Bf534.Qxh6+[34.Nf7+isMatein6!
34...Qxf735.Qxh6+Bh736.Rxa8Ne737.Rxf8+Ng838.Rgxg8+Qxg839.Qxh7#]34...Qxh6
35.Nf7+Kh736.Bxf5+Qg637.Bxg6+Kg738.Rxa8Be739.Rb8a540.Be4+Kxf741.Bxd5+
10

Whitecanalsosaynonchalantlythat:Blackiscramped,andsowillnditdicultto
organiseadefence,soIwillattacktheKinginanyevent.Thesituationisusuallymore
complexthanthisbluntnessimplies,butthecoreplanisstillplayed:

NunnShort(Brussels)[C98]1986[JDMN]

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c300

[8...Na59.Bc2c510.d4Qc711.h3Nc612.Be30013.Nbd2Rd814.Rc1Bd715.Nf1b4
16.d5Na717.c4Nc818.g4Nb619.b3a520.Ng3g621.Kh2a422.Rg1axb323.axb3Bf8
24.Qd2Ra225.Bg5Bg726.Qe3Rda827.Bb1R2a328.Ne1Kh829.Qd3Ng830.Nc2
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24.Qd2Ra225.Bg5Bg726.Qe3Rda827.Bb1R2a328.Ne1Kh829.Qd3Ng830.Nc2
R3a731.Rcf1Be832.Be3Nd733.Ne1Qd834.g5Qa535.h4Qd836.h5Qe737.Nf3Nb6
38.Rh1Qd739.Kg2Ne740.hxg6fxg641.Rh3Bf742.R 1Bg843.Nf5Rf844.Nxg7Kxg7
45.Qe210Capablanca,JoseKupchik,Abraham/NewYork(07)1915]

9.h3Na510.Bc2c511.d4Qc712.Nbd2Nc613.d5Nd814.Nf1Ne8

"InoldentimesWhitewouldoftenattackbyg4andNg3intheClosedSpanish;oncein
awhileWhitewouldbreakthroughwithaNf5sacrice,butnowitisrecognisedthatso
longasallBlack'spiecescanreachtheKing'sside,adirectattackshouldnotwork.
Thus,theemphasishasswitchedtodiversionaryQueen'ssideplay,withaKing'sside
attackbeingreservedforafavourablemomentwhenBlack'spieceshavebeenlured
away.Moreover,theKing'ssideattackisusuallybasedonf4ratherthang4,sinceonly
f4oersthechanceofactivatingthelightsquaredBishoponc2."

"White'spreliminarya4giveshimcontroloftheale;thismaynotappearrelevantto
theconductofaKing'ssideattack,butwatchwhathappenslater!"JohnNunn

15.a4

[15.g4g616.Ng3Ng717.Kh2f618.Be3Bd719.Qd2Nf720.Rg1Kh821.Raf1Rg822.Ne1
Raf8=RobatschPadevsky,Amsterdam1972]

15...Rb816.axb5axb517.b4c418.Ng3g619.Nh2Ng720.Rf1Bd721.f4Bh422.Qf3f5
23.fxe5dxe524.exf5Bxg325.Qxg3Nxf526.Qf2[26.Qe1+/]26...Nb727.Ng4h528.Ra6
hxg429.Rxg6+Ng730.Rxg7+[30.Rxg7+Kxg731.Bh6+Kxh6(31...Kg832.Qxf8+Rxf8
33.Rxf8#;31...Kh832.Qxf8+Rxf833.Rxf8#)32.Qh4+Kg733.Qh7#]10

Black'sQueen'ssideattack
Ofcourse,whatelsemaydistractBlackfromdefenceoftheKing'ssideisan
opportunitytoattacktheQueen'sside,andthisattackcansucceedagainstthebest
opposition:

Kasparov,G(2700)Karpov,A(2720)[C92]Wch32KK2Moscow(5),1985

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Bb7
10.d4Re811.Nbd2Bf812.a4Qd713.axb5axb514.Rxa8Bxa8[14...Rxa8?!15.Ng5]
15.d5Na516.Ba2!?N16...c617.b4Nb7!18.c4Rc8!?[18...Nd8+=]19.dxc6?![19.Qe2]
19...Qxc6=20.c5?![20.Bb2]20...Nd821.Bb2

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21...dxc5!=+22.bxc5Qxc523.Bxe5Nd724.Bb2Qb4!25.Nb3?![25.Qb1]25...Nc5/+

Blackhastheadvantagebutthereisstillalotoftensionintheposition.

26.Ba1Bxe427.Nfd4Ndb728.Qe2Nd629.Nxc5Qxc530.Qg4Re831.Rd1Bg632.Qf4
Qb433.Qc1Be434.Re1Qa535.Bb3Qa836.Qb2b437.Re3Bg638.Rxe8Qxe839.Qc1
Ne440.Bd5Nc541.Nb3Nd301

White'sQueen'ssideattack
Often,BlackwillstakeoutsomespaceontheQueen'ssidewith...a6and...b5.
WhetherinagivenpositionthisrepresentsQueen'ssidecounterplayorQueen'sside
weaknessesisoneofthekeyRuyLopezquestions!

KarpovWesterinen,H[C87]1974

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4d65.00Bd76.d4Nf67.c3Be78.Nbd2009.Re1Re8
10.Nf1h611.Ng3Bf812.Bd2

Modest,butWhiteisnotsomuchconcernedtopointabatteringramataweakspot
(therearen'tany)astomaintainaexiblepositionwhereBlackwillbelessabletore
arrangethepiecestocounterWhite'slatestidea.

12...b513.Bc2Na514.b3c515.d5Nh716.h3Be717.Nf5Nb718.a4bxa419.b4a5
20.Bxa4axb421.cxb4Bf822.Bc6Qc723.b5Nf624.Qc2Reb825.Ne3Bc826.Nc4Be7
27.b6Qd828.Ra7

Thepointofusinganopenleistoprovideinvasionpointsforrooks,althoughit's
unusualforaRooktoarriveontheseventh,supportedbyaPawn.Blackcannotbear
this,buttheexchangeconcedesamonsterpawnona7.

28...Nd729.Qa4Rxa730.bxa7Ra831.Qa6Qc7

Black'spiecesarestandingoneachother'stoesandcannotescapetheattackof
White'spieces.TheBlackRookhasnowheretomoveto.

32.Bxd7Qxd7[32...Bxd733.Nb6]33.Nb6Nd834.Qa110

(seealsotherstgameoftheDeepBlueKasparovreturnmatchin1997)

Black'sKing'ssideattack
NotacommonoccurrencebutthereareseveralattackingplansforBlack.Thereare
several...Bg4lineswhereanincautioush2h3canbemetby...h7h5!

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5d64.c3Bg45.h3h5!or

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6bxc65.OOBg46.h3h5!

AmorecomplexlineisseenintheArchangelVariation:1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6
4.Ba4Nf65.00b56.Bb3Bb77.Re1Bc58.c3d69.d4Bb610.Bg5h611.Bh4Qd7

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BlackannounceshisintentiontoabandonallsubtletyandplayforaKing'ssideattack.

12.a400013.axb5axb514.Bxf6

[14.Na3g515.Bg3h516.dxe5(16.h4gxh417.Bxh4Rh618.Nxb5Rg819.Qd3exd4
20.cxd4Nb4)16...h417.exf6hxg318.hxg3g419.Nd4Rh720.Bd5Rdh8=+BCO2]

14...gxf615.Bd5Rhg816.Kh1Qg417.Rg1exd418.cxd4f519.Nc3fxe420.Nxe4Qf5
21.Nc3Nb422.Bxb7+Kxb7KlovansShirov87=BCO2

Blackalsohassomegambitlines:aswellastheMarshallAttack(seeabove),Blackhas
severalopportunitiestoplay...f5.Theimmediate3...f5(or3...a64.Ba4f5)isoften
frowneduponbutalsooftenplayed,andifWhiteisalittleslowintheSteinitzVariation
BlackmayplaytheSiestaVariation,afarfromsleepyline.

Reti,RCapablanca,J[C74]Berlin(14),1928

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5d64.c3a65.Ba4f56.d4fxe47.Ng5exd48.Nxe4Nf69.Bg5Be7
10.Qxd4b511.Nxf6+gxf612.Qd5bxa413.Bh6Qd714.00Bb715.Bg700016.Bxh8
Ne517.Qd1Bf318.gxf3Qh301

SomeKeyVariationsoftheRuyLopez

VariationsoftheRuyLopezwithout3...a6
ThesearelessimportantatGMlevelthanthemainlineswith3...a6,butatclublevel
theyhavemanyvirtues:lesstheoretical,lesswellknown,andoftensimplerto
understand.Moreover,Ioftenndthatclubplayerswhenfacedwith3...a6oftenplay
4.Bxc6,andiftheydoplay4.Ba4,after4...Nf6theycannotbetrustedtoplay5.OO,
andinsteadplaysomeclodhoppingmovelike5.d3or5.Nc3.Whilethesearenot
particularlystronglinestheymaybemorestodgythanyouwouldwishtoplayagainst
asBlack,andmanyoftheseoldlinesmayleadtomoreopenorcomplexgamesatclub
level.Theymaybegroupedasfollows:

Strongpointlineswith...d6,...Nge7and/or...g6.
Blackcanholdthecentrewithout3...a6usingoneorsomecombinationofthese
moves.White'sstrongestplanineachcaseisundoubtedlytoplayanimmediatec3and
d4,withorwithoutOO.Blackcanthenhopetoslugitoutinaroughlyequalposition
(althoughBlackhasnotyetcastledandmaynditawkwardifhehasnotcastledand
thecentreopensup.)
HindermannFelixYudkovskyYair[C60/02]05EuropeanYouthU14Boys,TallinnEST,
1997

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nge74.c3g65.d4exd46.cxd4d57.e5Bg78.Bg5009.h3Bf5
10.Nc3Be411.Nxe4dxe412.Bxc6bxc613.Nd2h614.Bxe7Qxe715.Nxe4Rad816.Qa4
Qh417.Qxc6Rxd401

Activelineswith...Bc5and/or...Nf6
BothFischerandparticularlySpasskyhaveexperimentedwiththeClassicalVariation
(3...Bc5),andtherelatedBerlinClassical3...Nf64.OOBc5.AgainWhiteisbest
advisedtogoforcentralbreak,andagainitisreasonableforBlacktohopeforequality.

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AdyJJSpasskyBV[C65]London,1984

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.00Bc55.Nxe5Nxe56.d4a67.dxe5axb58.exf6Qxf6
9.Nc3c610.Qh5d611.Bg5Qg612.Qh4h613.Bf4b414.Ne20015.Ng3Re816.Rfd1d5
17.Be3Be718.Qf4Bd619.Qh4Bxg320.hxg3Qxe421.Rd4Qxc222.Rxb4Rxa223.Rxa2
Qb1+24.Kh2Qxa225.Bxh6Qb126.Be3Qc227.Qg5f628.Qh5Re529.Qh4c530.Ra4
Rxe331.fxe3g532.Qh6Qxa433.Qxf6Qc634.Qxg5+Kh735.Qe7+Kg636.g4Bxg4
37.Qh4Qd6+01

Makeamesswith3...Nd4
Oneonitsown,Bird'sDefencehasneverbeenrefutedandleadstouniquepositionsin
whichWhitemaybeuncomfortable,oratleastlessuent:

ShortNigelDIvanchukVassily[C61]Linares(Spain),1989

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nd44.Nxd4exd45.Bc4Nf66.Qe2Bc57.e5008.00d59.exf6
dxc410.Qh5b611.fxg7Re812.d3cxd313.cxd3Ba614.Qf3Qe715.Bf4Qe216.Nd2Qxf3
17.Nxf3Bxd318.Rfe1Be219.Bxc7d320.a3a521.Bf4Re422.Bd2Rae823.Bc3a4
24.Ng5Rc425.Rad1Rc826.Ra1Rd827.Nf3Rxc328.bxc3d229.Rxe2d1Q+30.Rxd1
Rxd1+31.Ne1Rc132.Re4f533.Re8+Kxg734.Kf1Rxc335.Ke2Rxa336.Nd3Ra2+37.Kf3
Ra338.Rd8Rc339.Kf4a340.Rd7+Kf841.Ne5a242.Kxf5a1Q43.Rd8+Kg744.Rd7+Kg8
01

VariationsoftheRuyLopezwith3...a6
TheExchangeVariation
Wehaveseenthatafter1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6dxc6Whitecannotwin
apawnwith5.Nxe5becauseof5....Qd4.

WhatyoumaynotknowisthatWhitecanplaythislinetowin,becauseinsomesense,
heisalreadyapawnup!

Letmeexplain.

Ifyouhaveanextrapawn,youshould:

exchangeopieces,notpawns
createapassedpawn
advancethepassedpawnandeither:

1.forceyouropponenttogiveupmaterialtostopitqueening,or
2.forceyourwayintotheopponent'spositiontotakematerialyourself
(usuallypawns)

Withthisinmind,let'slookatthepawnformationafter1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6
4.Bxc6dxc65.d4exd46.Qxd4Qxd47.Nxd4:

Now,iftherewereonlyKingsontheboard,Whitecouldeasilycreateapassedpawn
withf4,e5andf5ande6.

ButBlackcannotdothesameontheotherside,unlessWhiteallowsallthefront
pawnstocometoa4,b4andc4,whenthereisatrickwith...b3!e.g.axb3,c3!bxc3and
...a3.AslongasWhiteavoidsthattrap,thepassedpawnontheKing'ssideshouldwin.
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...a3.AslongasWhiteavoidsthattrap,thepassedpawnontheKing'ssideshouldwin.

ThisiswhatImeanbyalreadybeingapawnup.YouhaveanextrapawnontheKing's
side,andBlack'sextraQueen'ssidepawnisuseless.Thisisnottheonlythinggoingon
intheposition(elsetheLopezwouldbeaneasywinforWhite)butitisaconstant
fallbackplanforWhite.

EmanuelLaskerplayedthisseveraltimes,andmorerecently,BobbyFischer
discoveredthatyoucouldalsoplay5.OO!withanawkwardmomentforBlack,
becausenowtherereallyisathreattothee5pawnwhichisnoteasytomeet.

Lasker,ETarrasch,S[C68]Duesseldorf,1908

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6dxc65.d4exd46.Qxd4Qxd47.Nxd4c58.Ne2Bd7
9.b3Bc610.f3Be711.Bb2Bf612.Bxf6Nxf613.Nd200014.000Rd715.Nf4Re8
16.Nc4b617.a4a518.Rxd7Nxd719.Rd1Ne520.Nxe5Rxe521.c4Re8

22.Nh5Rg823.Rd3f624.Kd2Be825.Ng3Bd726.Ke3Re827.Nh5Re728.g4c629.h4
Kc730.g5f531.Ng3fxe432.Nxe4Bf533.h5Rd734.Rc3Rd135.Kf4Bd736.Re3Rh1
37.Ng3Rh4+38.Ke5Rh339.f4Kd840.f5Rh4

41.f6gxf6+42.Kxf6Be843.Nf5Rf444.g6hxg645.hxg6Rg446.Rxe8+Kxe847.g7Kd7
48.Nh4Rxg749.Kxg7Ke650.Nf3Kf551.Kf7Ke452.Ke6Kd353.Kd6Kc354.Kxc6Kxb3
55.Kb510

TheClosedMorphyDefence
ThisistheclassicbattlegroundintheRuy.Blackmaynditdiculttoholdtightinthe
closedMorphy,butperhapsnotasdicultasitisforWhitetokeepeverythingunder
control.Therearesomeclassicpositionalthemeshere,determinedbythepawn
formation:

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1.Space:Apartfromanycommitmenttopassiveplaybeingbadmatchtactics,aslong
BlackhasaPawnond6itwillalwaysbealittlemoreeasyforWhitetomanoeuvrethan
Black,fortheBlackpositionhasabottleneckonthedle.Steanexplainsthatthisis
whyWhitespendssomuchtimeintheopeningavoidingtheexchangeofthelight
squaredBishop:whileBlackretainsallfourminorpieces,thisslightcrampwillbemost
clearlyfelt.

2.Flexibility:Moreover,itisextremelyimportanttohavegoodmanoeuvringskills,
becauseatanypointthePawnformationcanshift:fromthebasicformation(a)wecan
goatleastfourdierentways(bebelow)...

AnotherlineofthoughtIfounduseful:

NunnOlafsson(Teesside)[C54]1982

1.e4e52.Bc4Nf63.d3Nc64.Nf3Bc55.00d66.c3Qe7[6...007.Nbd2a68.Bb3Ba7]
7.Nbd2a68.Bb3009.Re1Be610.Nf1[10.Bc2]10...Ba711.Bc2

"...whyistheRuyLopez(whichthisopeninghasvirtuallybecome)sodicultforBlack
tocombat?Lookatthepresentposition:Black'spiecesaresensiblydeveloped;hehas
asmuchspaceasWhite;hispawnsarestrong.Yethehasproblems."

"TheanswerseemstobethatinthistypeofRuyLopezpositionBlackcaneasilyget
caughtinasituationwherehisgamecannotunfold.Hereforinstance,Whitehashis
plansofNg3f5andlaterd4,butitislesseasyforBlacktondsomethingprotableto
dowithoutweakeninghimselformakingsomeseriousconcession.Hispiecesmaylook
reasonablyplaced,buttheycannotreadilyachieveanythingconstructiveorrelevant.I
shouldmakeitclearthatthisdoesnothavetohappeninaLopez;itisfarfrombeinga
badopeningforhim.Butinpracticeoneerror(6...Qe7)canleavehiminmisery.And
so,ifaplayerseemstohavearespectablegame(inaRuyLopezoranyotheropening
forthatmatter),yetstillloses,hismisfortunemayoftenbetracedbacktothislackof
lifeinhisposition."NUNNANDGRIFFITHS

WealsorecognisethatthetensionmayevenbeaddedtobyBlackplaying...c5,(the
Tchigorinline)seelater.

(a)ClosedKPcentre,Tensionform(RuyLopez)

Blackmayresolvethetensionbyplaying...e5xd4(c3xd4)whichresultsinan
unbalancedpositionwhereWhitehasanextracentralPawn(b).

(b)DoublePawncentre,KPunopposed

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TheseadjacentPawnsinamoreopenpositionconferabiggeradvantage,butina
moreopenpositionmaybemorevulnerabletoattacke.g.alongtheele.

Whitemayresolvethetensionintherstformation,byplayingeitherd4d5(givinga
closedcentre(c)withanadvanceddPawn),orbyplayingd4xe5(...d6xe5)witha
balanced,semiopenKPcentre(d).

(c)ClosedcentrewithadvanceddPawn.

TheadvanceddPawngivesaspaceadvantage,particularlyontheQueen'sside.To
playforawinthecPawnandmaybebPawnshouldbeadvanced,toseizemorespace
andperhapsopenlinesonthatside.Theopponentmayconsideranadvanceofthef
PawntounderminethedPawnandcounterattackontheKing'sside.

(d)Balanced,semiopenKPcentre

ThisisaverycommonformationinKPopenings.Ifneithersidecanachieveasharp
advanceofthefPawn,playwillbedominatedbypieceplayoneitherwing.Thereare
naturalpostsforKnightsond5andf5(d4andf4forBlack),andifBlack'scPawnhas
pushedtoc5earlier,thed5pointisevenmoreattractive.Controlofthedleisagood
ideabutcanusuallybecountered,resultinginexchanges.Occupationofthemutual
outpostsf5andf4byKnightsislessstraightforwardtocounter,andwhileyour
opponentissortingoutthatthreat,itmaybethatyoucangetthedlethen.

(e)SemiopenunbalancedKPcentre.

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TheePawnconfersaspaceadvantageandattackingprospectsontheKing'sside,
whichmaybeaddedtobyf2f4.TheePawnisexposedonthehalfopenle,and

shouldberestrained(e.g.by...Re8)frombreakingopenlinesfortheattackbye4e5.
Black'sbreak...d6d5isanaturalplantodissolvethecentre.

TheTchigorinCounterattack
So,asaresultoffacingallthishassle,BlackdevelopedaplanofQueen'sside
counterplayintheclosedMorphy:

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Na5
10.Bc2c511.d4

Black'sideaistwofold:tomaintainthee5pointinthecentre,whileattackingonthe
Queen'sside.

Almosteverylegalmovehasbeentriedhere:

11...Qc7wasTchigorin'soriginalrecipe

11...Nd7wasfamouslytriedbyKeres

11...Bb7isagoodideabutmaybesquashedbyd4d5,soBlackmayprefertopreface
thiswith11...cxd4.After12.cxd4aswellas12...Bb7wealsoseetwonewideas:
12...Nc6and12...Bd7

AswehaveseenWhitehasavarietyofplansinresponse:

(a)justtomanoeuvre,keepingthetensionaslongaspossibleandimprovingthe
positionofyourownpieces,relyingontheslightextraspacereferredtoabove

(b)breakuptheQueen'ssidewitha2a4,

(c)sealthecentrewithd4d5(aRuyLopezformationwhichhasalotincommonwith
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(c)sealthecentrewithd4d5(aRuyLopezformationwhichhasalotincommonwith
theKing'sIndian!),
(d)openupthed5outpostwithdxc5(ordxe5).However,Whiteisnotyetterriblyclose
toputtingaKnightond5,andBlackcannowthinkaboutaplanlike...c5c4,and
...Na5b7c5d3,withamonsterBlackKnightond3.Infact,Blackcanaimfor...c4
whetherornotWhiteexposesthed5point,andcanplayforitfromformationsother
thanthemainlineTchigorin.

KasparovKarpov(1990),m14

Sothisisaformationthatrequiressomedelicatefootworkbybothplayers.

ModernvariationsintheClosedMorphy.
MorerecentlyBlackhasexperimentedwithmorerestrainedplansthantheTchigorin,
hopingtoavoidthedisadvantagesofthisline(decentralisedKnightona5,potential
Queen'ssideweaknesses)andinsteadmanoeuvremoreadroitlytosecureadequate
playacrosstheboard.Theselineshaveincluded,after1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6
4.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3:

TheBreyerVariation,9...Nbd7,whereBlackhopestoreorganisehispiecessmoothly
atatimewhenWhiteisbynomeanswelldeveloped.Thiswasthe'grower'whenIwas
aboy,andisstillanimportantline.

TheSmyslovVariation,9...h6,waitingforWhitetoshowhishand,alinewhichhas
beensupercededby...

TheFlohrZaitsevVariation,9...Bb7,whichhasbeentheheightofcurrentfashion
sinceZaitsevshowedthattheoldplanwith...Na5(e.g.Fischer,RJStein,L,1967)was
lesssafethanreorganisingwith...Re8and...Be7.ThisisaprettyheavyweightGMline
outsidemyownexperienceandIwon'tcommentfurther,butyouwillseeitabout:

Kasparov,G(2700)Karpov,A(2720)[C92]WCh32KK2Moscow(9),1985

1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.00Be76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3009.h3Bb7
10.d4Re8

[IfWhitewants,thereisadrawtobehadby11.Ng5Rf812.Nf3]

11.Nbd2Bf812.a4h613.Bc2Nb814.Bd3c615.Nf1Nbd716.Ng3Qc717.Bd2g618.Qc1
Kh719.b3Bg720.Qc2Nf821.Be3Ne622.Rad1Rac823.Bf1Bf824.Rd2Qb825.Qb1Ba8
26.b4Bb7

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Amazing:26moveswithoutanyexchanges.AndithasbeensuggestedthatWhites
27thwasinferiortoQa2!

27.axb5axb528.Red1Qc729.Rc1Bg730.Rcd1Rcd831.dxe5dxe532.Rxd8Rxd8
33.Rxd8Nxd834.c4bxc435.Bxc4Ne836.Qa2Nd637.Bb3Nb538.h4Nd439.Bxd4exd4
40.h5Qe741.Qd2c542.Qc2cxb443.hxg6+fxg644.Qc4h545.e5Bxf346.gxf3Bxe5
47.f4Bxf448.Qg8+Kh649.Bc2Qg750.Qxd8Bxg351.fxg3Qe552.Qf8+Kg553.Kg2

Indexofgames:

TalBronstein[C96]1956*(#_Toc427324624)

Teichmann,RSchlechter,C[C90]Karlsbad,1911*(#_Toc427324625)

Fischer,RBarczay,L[C95]SousseiztRd:1,1967*(#_Toc427324626)

NunnShort(Brussels)[C98]1986[JDMN]*(#_Toc427324627)

Kasparov,G(2700)Karpov,A(2720)[C92]Wch32KK2Moscow(5),1985*
(#_Toc427324628)

KarpovWesterinen,H[C87]1974*(#_Toc427324629)

Reti,RCapablanca,J[C74]Berlin(14),1928*(#_Toc427324630)

Lasker,ETarrasch,S[C68]Duesseldorf,1908*(#_Toc427324631)

NunnOlafsson(Teesside)[C54]1982*(#_Toc427324632)

Kasparov,G(2700)Karpov,A(2720)[C92]WCh32KK2Moscow(9),1985*
(#_Toc427324633)

Bibliography
+STEANSimpleChess(Faber)

+EUWE/KRAMER,TheMiddleGameVol.1(Bell)

+SUETINTheCompleteSpanish(Batsford)

+FISCHERMy60MemorableGames(Faber)

+SUETINModernChessOpeningTheory(Appendix)(Pergamon)

+KING/PONZETTO,UnderstandingtheSpanish(Batsford)
+KARPOVTheOpenGameinAction(Batsford)

+BARDENTheRuyLopez:WinningChesswith1.PK4!(Pergamon)

=YUDOVICHSpanishwithout3...a6(Batsford)

=THOMASSpanish5.d4!(ChessPlayer)

TAULBUT,HowtoplaytheRuyLopez(Batsford)

+SUETIN,TheCompleteSpanish(Batsford)

=YUDOVITCH,Spanishwithouta6(Batsford)

=SOLTIS,WinningwiththeRuyLopezExchangeVariation(ChessDigest)

=RUNKE,MeetCARL(CentreAttackinRuyLopez)

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4/10/2017 SpanishTorture?TheRuyLopez|ExeterChessClub

=FILIPOWICZ&KONIKOWSKI,4...d5intheCordelDefence,SpanishGame(Ruy
Lopez)(ChessEnterprises)

PastEventsand
Results
Fri,10Mar201709:30pm
EastDevonChessCongress
2017
Forfulldetails,visittheevent
website:
www.eastdevonchesscongress.com

Sun,4Dec201607:15pm
3rdPlymouthRapidplay
3rdPlymouthRapidplay(a
sixroundSwissRapidplay)
willtakeplaceonSunday4
DecemberatPlymouthChess
Club,from10amto6:15pm.

Fulldetailsandanentryform
fortheeventareavailablevia
ChessDevonatthefollowing
link:
http://www.chessdevon.org.uk/PlymouthRapidplay.doc

Sat,3Dec201611:06pm
DevonJuniorChess
Championships2016
Attachedles:
Champs2016.pdf
TeignAcademy,
KingsteigntonTQ123JG

more

ChessQuotes
"Ithasbeensaid

andisprobablynottrue

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