Exchange variant (Spanish game)

Exchange variant of the Spanish game
a b c d e f G H   8th 8th 7th 7th 6th 6th 5 5 4th 4th 3 3 2 2 1 1   a b c d e f G H
Trains	1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-b5 a7-a6 4. Bb5xc6 d7xc6
ECO key	C68-C69
Named after	Exchange of pieces on move 4
Oldest source	World Cup competition 1908 , Emanuel Lasker - Siegbert Tarrasch
Played first	19th century

The exchange variant of the Spanish game is an opening variant in chess . It arises after the trains

1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
3. Bf1-b5 a7-a6
4. Bb5xc6 d7xc6

and is classified in the ECO codes under C68 – C69.

The basic idea of ​​white is the formation of a pawn majority on the kingside with simultaneous devaluation of the black majority on the queenside ( double pawn on the c-file). After exchanging the white d-pawn for the black e-pawn, the pure pawn endgame would mostly be won for White.

The exchange variant was primarily shaped by the work of two world champions : Emanuel Lasker and Bobby Fischer . Although it was already known in the 19th century, it only gained greater importance after the game Lasker - Tarrasch in the 1908 World Cup , in which White was able to exploit the small advantage of the better pawn structure in the endgame . However, Lasker could not change the general opinion that the black pair of bishops is more than sufficient compensation for the development disadvantage and the deterioration of the pawn structure. The decisive game Lasker - Capablanca, St. Petersburg 1914 also caused a sensation.

4.… b7xc6 narrows Black's position and does not allow Black's pair of bishops to come into their own. Further 5. d2 – d4 e5xd4 6. Qd1xd4 brings a dominant position for the white queen.

Fischer played the exchange variant at the 1966 Chess Olympiad in Havana three times against strong opponents and thus initiated a renaissance of the exchange variant.

variants

The main variation is 5. 0–0 . Then Black has the following options:

• 5.… f7 – f6 6. d2 – d4 and now 6.… e5xd4 7. Nf3xd4 or 6.… Bc8 – g4
• 5.… Qd8 – d6 prepares the big castling and subsequent pawn attack by f7 – f6, g7 – g5 and h7 – h5. The main game was Johan Barendregt - Dawid Bronstein , European Team Championship, Hamburg 1965. 6. Nb1 – a3 is the most active response. There is a threat of a double attack on the queen d6 and the pawn e5 , Sa3 – c4 . 6.… b7 – b5 prevents this, but it provides leverage against the actually planned black castling position on the queenside. Black would have to reschedule with c6 – c5 and Bc8 – b7.
• 5.… Bf8 – d6 and after 6. d2 – d4 e5xd4 7. Qd1xd4 still f7 – f6
• 5.… Bc8 – g4 6. h2 – h3 h7 – h5!
• 5.… Ng8 – e7
• 5.… Qd8 – f6

5. d2 – d4 are less common, as is the case with Lasker z. B. was common in Lasker - Capablanca, St. Petersburg 1914 , played 5. Nb1 – c3 as in Alekhine - Teichmann, Berlin 1921 or 5. d2 – d3. 5. Nf3xe5 is considered inferior, since Black wins the pawn back by 5.… Qd8 – d4, with a double attack on the knight e5 and the pawn e4 and is at least evenly balanced afterwards.

The exchange variant can be delayed with the move order 3.… a7 – a6 4. Bb5 – a4 Ng8 – f6 5. 0–0 Bf8 – e7 by doing 5. Ba4xc6 or 6th Ba4xc6. As a result, White loses a tempo , in return the black pieces Be7 and Nf6 are unfavorably positioned.

literature

• Stefan Kindermann : Spanish exchange variant: in the footsteps of Bobby Fischer. Edition Olms, Hombrechtikon 2005, ISBN 3-283-00469-2 .
• Krzysztof Panczyk, Jacek Ilczuk: Ruy Lopez Exchange, Everyman Chess 2005, ISBN 978-1-85744-389-9 .