Closed defense (Spanish game)

Full defense 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. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0–0 Bf8 – e7
ECO key	C84 - C99
Named after	Closed position after Black's 5th move

The closed defense of the Spanish game is an opening variant in chess . Their ECO codes are C84 to C99 .

The closed defense arises after the moves

1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
2. Ng1 – f3 Nb8 – c6
3. Bf1 – b5 a7 – a6
4. Bb5 – a4 Ng8 – f6
5. 0–0 Bf8 – e7 (see diagram 1 )

Main variants

White's move most often played now is 6. Rf1 – e1, with which the pawn on e4 is protected. Exceptions are the center and worrall attacks as well as the delayed exchange variant .

Center attack

	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

The attack on the center after 6. d2 – d4.

The center attack 6. d2 – d4 leads to sharp play.

White forces the game to open up and builds on its greater flexibility.

Black can equalize with 6.… e5xd4 7. e4 – e5 Nf6 – e4, but it's easy for him to go wrong.

White cannot continue on 6.… e5xd4 with 7. Nf3xd4 because after 7.… Nf6xd4 8. Qd1xd4 b7 – b5 9. Ba4 – b3 c7 – c5 and c5 – c4 he would lose a piece.

6.… Nf6xe4 is answered with 7. d4 – d5.

The center attack 6. d2 – d4 has the ECO code C84.

The reply 6.… b7 – b5 7. Ba4 – b3 can lead to a variation on the Noah's Ark trap .

Worrall attack

	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

The worrall attack after 6. Qd1 – e2.

The worrall attack (C86) arises after White's sixth move 6. Qd1 – e2 .

Instead of following the main line 6. Rf1 – e1, White plays 6. Qd1 – e2 with the idea that the queen will support the e-pawn while the f-rook swings to d1 to support the advance of the d-pawn and gain strength by confronting the queen on d8 (although there is often no time for that). Paul Keres played this line a few times. More recently, Sergey Tiviakov also played this variant, as did Nigel Short , who played this variant twice in his match against Anatoly Karpov in 1992 and won both times. To bypass the open defense , Qd1 – e2 can be done on move 5. One example of the resulting train changeover is Roesch - Schlage, Hamburg 1910 .

Awerbach variant

	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

The Awerbach variation after 6.… d7 – d6.

The Awerbach variant (C87) emerges after the further trains

6. Rf1-e1 d7-d6

In the Averbakh variant that after the Russian grandmaster Yuri Averbakh is named, Black defended the challenged e-pawn with 6 ... d6 d7 instead of 6. ... b7-b5, bringing the white-span white runners is distributed.

The Awerbach variant shares some similarities with the modern Steinitz defense and the Russian variant of the Spanish game, in which Black avoids b7 – b5, as this weakens the queenside a little.

On the other hand, are black so the chance, on the queenside to gain extra space.

White can either continue with 7. Ba4xc6 + b7xc6 8. d2 – d4 or with 7. c2 – c3 Bc8 – g4, since it is too late for Black to move on to the more common lines of closed defense.

7. c2 – c3 b7 – b5 allows for 8. Ba4 – c2 in one go, which means that White gains a tempo compared to other variations in which he has to perform the Ba4 – b3 – c2 maneuver.

The pin created by 7. c2 – c3 Bc8 – g4 also temporarily prevents White from playing the advance d2 – d4.

In response, White can either force d2 – d4 by playing 8. h2 – h3 Bg4 – h5 9. Ba4xc6 + b7xc6 10. d2 – d4, or he pushes d2 – d4 out and instead plays 8. d2 – d3 with the intention to queen's knight with the maneuver Sb1-d2-f1-g3 to the kingside to convict.

Teichmann variant

	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

The Teichmann variant after 9th d2 – d3.

The Teichmann variant or Pilnik variant results from:

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. d2-d3

The Teichmann variant is named after the game Richard Teichmann - Carl Schlechter , played in Karlsbad in 1911, in which after 9.… Nc6 – a5 10. Bb3 – c2 c7 – c5 11. Nb1 – d2 Qd8 – c7 12. Nd2– f1 Sa5 – c6 13. Nf1 – e3 Bc8 – b7 14. Ne3 – f5 Rf8 – e8 15. Bc1 – g5 Nf6 – d7 16. Bc2 – b3 Nd7 – f8 17. Bb3 – d5 Nf8 – g6 18. Bg5xe7 Ng6xe7 the impact 19. Bd5xf7 + definitely won.

Bogolyubov-Yates variant

	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

The Bogolyubov variant after 9. d2 – d4 Bc8 – g4.

Immediate 9. d2 – d4 was played by Yates .

Instead of 9.… e5xd4 10. c3xd4 Bc8 – g4, Bogolyubov went straight to the 9th… Bc8 – g4.

The Bogolyubov variant results from the sequence of moves:

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. d2-d4 Bc8-g4

10. d4 – d5 Nc6 – a5 11. Bb3 – c2 c7 – c6 12. d5xc6 Qd8 – c7 13. Nb1 – d2 Qc7xc6 14. Nd2 – f1 h7 – h6 would result in a struggle for the backward pawn on d6.

The Bogolyubov variant is the reason why White mostly prefers 9. h2 – h3 instead of 9. d2 – d4.

Smyslow variant

	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

The Smyslow variant after 9.… h7 – h6.

The Smyslow variant (C93) is created after the following moves:

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. h2-h3 h7-h6

A plan is followed here which is similar to that in the Saizew variant . The Saizew variant can be seen as an improved Smyslow variant . There, in the Saizew variant , Black tries to use one less tempo by skipping h7 – h6 and instead Bb7 covers Nc6 and looks towards e4.

Here White succeeds in the knight hike 10. d2 – d4 Rf8 – e8 11. Nb1 – d2 Be7 – f8 12. Nd2 – f1 because the Nc6 is unprotected. Capturing the e4 pawn after e5xd4 13. c3xd4 would lead to a double attack 14. Bb3 – d5. Therefore, after 12. Nd2 – f1, Nc6 is covered by 12.… Bc8 – d7 or 12.… Bc8 – b7. Smyslow and Efim Geller played 12… Bc8 – d7 to keep an eye on the f5-square. Svetozar Gligorić 12.… Bc8 – b7.

The variant 9. h2 – h3 Qd8 – d7 (this covers the Nc6) can also be associated with Smyslow . After 10. d2 – d4 Rf8 – e8, the knight's failure 11. Nf3 – g5 should be cushioned by 11.… Nc6 – d8.

Breyer system

	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

The Breyer system after 9.… Nc6 – b8.

The Breyer system is based on the sequence of trains

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. h2-h3 Sc6-b8

reached.

The Breyer system is named after Gyula Breyer .

In the Breyer system, Black frees his c-pawn and intends to move the knight b8 to d7, from where he supports e5 after the logical continuation 10. d2 – d4. Then Black can follow through with… Bc8 – b7 and… c7 – c5.

For example 10. d2-d4 Nb8-d7 11. Nb1-d2 Lc8-b7 12. Lb3-c2 Rf8-e8 .

After another Be7 – f8, Black's pressure on the white center, especially on the e4 pawn, can be increased. With e5xd4 the e4 pawn would be threatened by a total of three black pieces. The transfer of the black-squared bishop via f8 to g7, prepared by g7 – g6, is also obvious.

Both 13. Nd2-f1 Be7-f8 14. Bc1-g5 h7-h6 15. Bg5-h4 and 13. a2-a4 Be7-f8 14. Bc2-d3 c7-c6 are common.

Spasski was a staunch supporter of the Breyer system.

Chigorin system

	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

The Chigorin system after 9.… Nc6 – a5.

The chigorin system of the Spanish game arises according to the sequence of moves:

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. h2-h3 Sc6-a5

The Chigorin system was refined by Michail Chigorin around 1900 and became the main defense for Black in the Spanish game for more than 50 years. With 9.… Nc6 – a5 Black frees his c-pawn to gain space on the queenside.

After the continuation 10. Bb3 – c2 c7 – c5 11. d2 – d4 Black can choose whether to open the c-file with c5xd4. The opening of the c-file 11.… c5xd4 12. c3xd4 followed by Bc8 – b7 is attributed to Panow . With 12.… Bc8 – b7 Panow prepared an early d6 – d5. White should prevent this advance with his own d4 – d5 and lock Sa5 out with another b2 – b3 directed against Sa5 – c4 – b6; the Bb7 “bites on granite”. This also applies to the immediate 11.… Bc8 – b7, which is attributed to Romanishin .

Often the black queen covers the black pawn e5 with 11.… Qd8 – c7 .

The covering of the black pawn e5 by an immediate 11.… Sa5 – c6 is the Borissenko variant of the Chigorin system. 12. d4 – d5 drives the knight Nc6 to the edge again.

The covering of the black pawn e5 by 11.… Nf6 – d7 is the Keres variant of the Chigorin system. Within the Keres variant of the Chigorin system, Alexander Graf stands out with his favorite variant 12. Nb1 – d2 e5xd4 13. c3xd4 Sa5 – c6 14. d4 – d5 Nc6 – e5. This creates a position similar to the Modern Benoni Defense , in which b5 has already been enforced.

The older variant played by Keres is 12. Nb1 – d2 c5xd4 13. c3xd4 Sa5 – c6. Bobby Fischer played against Keres in the 1962 Curaçao Candidates Tournament on 11.… Nf6 – d7 12. d4xc5.

The Chigorin system has lost its popularity. Black has to take some time to get his edge knight from a5 back into play. In the main variant of the Chigorin system, 11.… Qd8 – c7 , after 12. Nb1 – d2 it is not uncommon for Sa5 – c6 to occur . 13. d4 – d5 would drive the knight Nc6 over d8 to secure the kingside.

Akiba Rubinstein associated the regrouping Nf6 – e8, g7 – g6, Ne8 – g7, f7 – f6, Nd8 – f7. For the first time in the Bernstein-Rubinstein game, Ostend 1907.

Rauser therefore bet on the white knight support points d5 and f5 with 13. d4xc5. Therefore provoked Cholmow against Fischer in Havana in 1965 14 to 13 ... d6xc5 Sd2-f1 Bc8-e6 15. f1-e3 Ra8-d8 16. Qd1-e2-c4 c5 17. Nf3-g5 h7-h6 18. Sg5xe6 f7xe6 for a double pawn on e6, which destroyed the white knight support points d5 and f5.

Anatoli Karpov bet on White's space advantage after 13. d4 – d5 Nc6 – d8 . With 14. a2 – a4 he opened a second front on the queenside.

12.… Bc8 – d7 13. Nd2 – f1 Na5 – c4 was Tigran Petrosjan's approach.

12.… Bc8 – d7 13. Nd2 – f1 Rf8 – e8 14. Nf1 – e3 g7 – g6 and Be7 – f8 were recommended by Gligorić and Matanović .

Saizew variant

	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

The Saizew Variation after 10.… Rf8 – e8.

The Saizew variant (also called Flohr- Saizew variant) arises after the further sequence of moves:

6. Rf1 – e1 b7 – b5
7. La4 – b3 d7 – d6
8. c2 – c3 0–0
9. h2 – h3 Lc8 – b7
10. d2 – d4 Rf8 – e8

This variant was suggested by Igor Saizew , who was one of Anatoly Karpov's coaches for many years. Since Karpov played the Saizew variant, it became one of the most important variants of the Spanish game.

The Saizew variant is closely related to the Smyslow variant because the Saizew variant can be used as a draw swing after 11. Nf3 – g5 Re8 – f8 12. Ng5 – f3. Because after another 12.… Rf8 – e8 13. Nf3 – g5 Re8 – f8 14. Ng5 – f3 there is a draw by repeating the position three times . With 12.… h7 – h6 with a simultaneous transition to the Smyslow Variation , Black can evade this draw.

Originally, 9.… Bc8 – b7 by Salo Flohr in connection with the pawn sacrifice Be7xf6 after 10. d2 – d4 e5xd4 11. c3xd4 d6 – d5 12. e4 – e5 Nf6 – e4 13. Nb1 – c3 Nc6 – a5 14. Bb3– c2 f7 – f5 15. e5xf6 introduced.

15.… Be7xf6 16. Nc3xe4 d5xe4 17. Bc2xe4 Bb7xe4 18. Re1xe4 c7 – c5 lets Black exert a certain amount of pressure.

In 1956, at the third Clare Benedict Cup in Lenzerheide , this variant was used and was therefore also called the "Lenzerheider variant".

10.… Nc6 – a5 11. Bb3 – c2 Sa5 – c4 happened in Keres - Gligorić, Zurich in 1959.

The repetition of positions is also avoided by 10.… Nf6 – d7 11. Nb1 – d2 e5xd4 12. c3xd4 Be7 – f6 13. Nd2 – f1 Nc6 – a5 14. Bb3 – c2 Rf8 – e8. This variant was invented by 2 players from Saratov .

With 9.… Bc8 – b7, Black is preparing to put more pressure on e4 after 10. d2 – d4 Rf8 – e8 11. Nb1 – d2 Be7 – f8, which can make the game sharp and tactical . The 9th… Rf8 – e8 presented in front is less precise because after 10. a2 – a4 Nc6 – a5 the e4 pawn is not directly attacked and the white bishop can therefore keep an eye on f7 with 11. Bb3 – a2.

Karpov variant

	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

The Karpov Variation after 9.… Nf6 – d7.

The Karpov variant is created after the trains

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. h2-h3 Nf6-d7

Anatoly Karpov tried this variant a few times in the 1990 World Championship match, but Garry Kasparov gained a significant advantage against the variant in the 18th game.

The Karpov variant is solid, but a bit passive. After 10. d2 – d4 the e5 pawn should be covered by Be7 – f6. In addition, the pressure on d4 prevents the typical Springer migration Sb1 – d2 – f1.

Incidentally, 9.… Nf6 – d7 is also often referred to as the Chigorin Defense, so that two variants of the Spanish game have this name. The move 9.… Nc6 – a5, however, is more commonly referred to as a Chigorin defense.

Cholmov variant

	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

The Cholmow variant after 9.… Bc8 – e6.

The Cholmow variant is created after the trains

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 d7-d6
8. c2-c3 0-0
9. h2-h3 Lc8-e6

The variant is named after Ratmir Cholmow and was played frequently in the 1980s, but is rarely encountered today.

Marshall gambit

→ Main article : Marshall attack

The Marshall Gambit or Marshall Attack (C89) is a sharp variant that is associated with a pawn sacrifice for Black. It arises after the trains:

6. Rf1-e1 b7-b5
7. La4-b3 0-0
8. c2-c3 d7-d5

literature

• New In Chess Yearbook , 39, ISBN 90-5691-007-8 .
• John L. Watson : Secrets of Modern Chess Openings , Volume 1, Gambit Publications, 2007, ISBN 1-904600-74-3 .
• Victor Bologan : Bologan's Ruy Lopez for Black , New In Chess, ISBN 978-90-5691-607-7 .
• Max Euwe : Position and combination game in chess , Joachim Beyer Verlag, ISBN 978-3-88805-497-6 .
• Efim Geller: The application of chess theory . Pergamon Press, Oxford 1984. ISBN 0-08-029738-2 .
• Lev Gutman : Modern Spanish Rau, 1986, ISBN 3-7919-0254-7 .
• Glenn Flear : The Ruy Lopez main line , Everyman Chess, 2004.
• Sverre Johnsen: The Ruy Lopez: a Guide for Black Gambit Publications, 2007, ISBN 978-1904600671 .
• Mihail Marin: A Spanish Repertoire for Black Quality Chess, 2007, ISBN 978-9197600507 .
• Aleksei Kuzmin: The Zaitsev System New In Chess, 2016, ISBN 978-90-5691-684-8 .
• Evgeny Solozhenkin: The Spanish Main Road Chess Stars, 2016, ISBN 978-6197188073 .