The chigorin variation follows after the main line of the closed morphy, i.e. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 (d6 or 0-0) 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 [Usually the black side will play for d6 as after 7...0-0 a4, black will have t...
We saw in the previous article the main line of the closed variation of the Morphy defence (3..a6), and the advantages and disadvantages, we also briefly discussed why white generally prefers to play the prophylactic 9.h3 instead of the imme...
The morphy defence was obviously first championed by the famous American, Paul Morphy, who was the first to support that the move 3...a6 after 3.Bb5 is the best move as gives Black a lot of flexibility. As we have already seen that the exchange va...
The Alekhine variation of the exchange variation in the Ruy Lopez, after 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6, is 5.d4 immediately challenging the center. The ideas again are very similar to the other main variations following the Ruy Lopez ex...
Now let's take a look at another variation, 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb4 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0. This variation was employed by one of the greatest chess players ever, Robert James Fischer. After 5.0-0 the threat Nxe5 becomes real. Because after ...
This series of articles will explain the basic ideas behind the exchange variation in the Ruy Lopez, and explore the key variations. But firstly let's see why white would want to exchange his bishop on b5 with black's knight on c6.&...
First of all, this article is intended for novice players who may have heard of the ruy lopez opnening but haven't studied it and understand it. People who have studied it should not bother reading it. This is an introduction to the Span...
