Spanish game
| Spanish game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| other names | Spanish, Ruy Lopez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trains | 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-b5 |
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| ECO key | C60-C99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Nationality of Ruy López | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oldest source | Göttingen manuscript | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| e5.Nf3.Nc6.Bb5 & nodes = 21720.21721.21722.21723.21724 Replay on Chessgames.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Spanish game (or Spanish ) is a frequently played chess opening .
It starts with the trains:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
- 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
- 3. Bf1-b5
The Spanish game is an open game .
Basic idea
The basic idea of 3. Bf1 – b5 is to first complete the development of the kingside with short castling and then either continue with Bb5xc6 or open the center with d2 – d4.
After 4. Bb5xc6 d7xc6 5. Nf3xe5 should not be played, since the move Qd8 – d4 follows, which wins the pawn back and prevents White from castling. This plays a major role in the exchange variant and is the justification for 3.… a7 – a6, which was popularized by Paul Morphy . 4. Bb5 – a4 has remained the main line to this day.
The queen's knight often stays on b1 at first, so that White also has the option of preparing his approach in the center with c2 – c3. After castling, White can protect his e-pawn with Rf1 – e1 if necessary. If the bishop is attacked on b5 with a7 – a6, he usually retreats to a4 and, if there is further pursuit, with b7 – b5 to b3. It occupies the important diagonal a2 – g8 there. Compared to the Italian game , White then has the advantage that the bishop is less exposed on b3 than on c4 and that Black has weakened his queenside with a7 – a6 and b7 – b5.
history
The Spanish part was first described in the early modern Göttingen manuscript . The name goes back to the Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura , who in 1561 presented a detailed book about his study of this chess opening. After him, the sequence of moves (mainly) in the English-speaking area is called the Ruy Lopez opening.
At the end of the 19th century it established itself as the most popular opening in master chess after the moves 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5 and has retained this role to this day. The oldest games include the Steinitz Defense , the Berlin Defense and the Open Defense . The closed defense reached its current popularity status until the mid-20th century.
Due to its long history and prominence as well as its strategic complexity, the Spanish game is one of the best-studied openings in the game of chess, along with the Sicilian Defense and the Queen's Gambit .
Main systems
The most frequently played systems in the Spanish game are the closed defense, the open defense, the Berlin defense and the modern variant.
Closed defense
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The closed defense after 9. h2 – h3
The closed defense of the Spanish game begins with the moves
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 Ng8-f6
- 5. 0-0 Bf8-e7
Black makes use of the fact that the immediate 6. d2 – d4 does not yet have the desired effect, since White cannot continue 6.… e5xd4 with 7. Nf3xd4, namely after 7.… Nc6xd4 8. Qd1xd4 b7 – b5 9. Ba4 – b3 c7 – c5 and c5 – c4 lose a piece. However, 6. d2 – d4 is playable, as is 6. Qd1 – e2. The main continuation is, however
- 6. Rf1-e1
Just like after 6. d2 – d3, White now threatens to win a pawn with 7. Ba4xc6 and 8. Nf3xe5. Black usually reacts with it
- 6.… b7 – b5
- 7. Ba4-b3 d7-d6
Instead, 7… 0–0 is also possible, with the idea of sacrificing a pawn with d7 – d5 after 8. c2 – c3 ( Marshall gambit ). Since 8. d2 – d4 would still cause the problems described above, White is betting here
- 8. c2-c3 0-0
away. Here after 9. d2 – d4 Bc8 – g4 White would have no way of maintaining the tension in the center. Although 9. d2 – d4 is playable, White usually prepares this move
- 9. h2-h3
in front. The position then created is regarded as the actual starting position of the closed defense. Black has numerous well-playable options here, e.g. B. 9.… Nc6 – a5 10. Bb3 – c2 c7 – c5, 9.… Nc6 – b8 10. d2 – d4 Nb8 – d7, 9.… Nf6 – d7 or 9.… Bc8 – b7 10. d2 – d4 Rf8 – e8. All of these systems have been played frequently in grandmaster practice and have been thoroughly analyzed .
Open defense
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The open variant after 8.… Bc8 – e6
The continuation
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 Ng8-f6
- 5. 0-0 Nf6xe4
leads to the open defense , its most important position after the next moves
- 6. d2-d4 b7-b5
- 7. Ba4-b3 d7-d5
- 8. d4xe5 Bc8-e6
arises. The following strategic elements are important here:
- Black has a central knight on e4, but it cannot be held permanently because White can force him to trade or retreat with c2 – c3, Nb1 – d2 and Bb3 – c2. On the other hand, Black can try to use the currently active position of this knight for tactical operations.
- The black queenside structure is a little inharmonious. Black would like to close the gap in his pawn phalanx with c7 – c5; but his own knight c6 stands in his way for this.
- The e5 pawn gives White on the one hand a pawn majority and thus chances of attacking on the kingside, on the other hand Black can also attack this advanced pawn or force it to trade with f7 – f6.
In the 1960s the open defense was fought mainly with the Keres variant 9. Qd1 – e2. Later the classical move 9. c2 – c3 was preferred again. Since the 1990s, 9. Nb1 – d2 has been considered the most dangerous move for Black. In addition, the procedure with 9. Bc1 – e3 is also common.
One of the numerous complex lines is the Dilworth attack, which arises after 9. c2 – c3 Bf8 – c5 10. Nb1 – d2 0–0 11. Bb3 – c2 Ne4xf2.
The open defense was recommended by Siegbert Tarrasch at the beginning of the 20th century . José Raúl Capablanca considered them to be inferior, as White got a pawn majority on the kingside, while the black queenside majority could be blocked. Nevertheless, she can still be found in the grandmaster's practice to this day. Viktor Korchnoi used it several times in his two world championship fights against Anatoly Karpov . Here, for the first time was Zaytzev knight sacrifice (9 Sb1-d2 Ne4-c5 10. c2-c3 d5-d4 11. Nf3-g5) presented. The open defense suffered another setback at the 1995 World Chess Championship when Garry Kasparov won a brilliant game with the white pieces against Viswanathan Anand (with Saizew's knight sacrifice).
Berlin Defense
The Berlin defense is characterized by Black's third move, 3.… Ng8 – f6.
Modern variant
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The modern variant after 6.… Bf8 – c5
The modern variant has been popular since the 1990s. It arises according to the following features:
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 Ng8-f6
- 5. 0-0 b7-b5
- 6. Ba4-b3 Bf8-c5
and is related to the Möller variant 3.… a7 – a6 4. Bb5 – a4 Ng8 – f6 5. 0–0 Bf8 – c5.
Other systems
If Black plays 3.… a7 – a6, White can resort to the exchange variant with 4. Bb5xc6 if he wants to avoid the main systems. With or without 3.… a7 – a6, in addition to the main systems, Black has numerous other playable options to continue his development.
Exchange variant and delayed exchange variant
The exchange variant arises according to the sequence of turns:
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5xc6
Arkhangelsk variant
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The Arkhangelsk variant after 6.… Bc8 – b7
The Arkhangelsk variant (C78) is created after the trains:
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 Ng8-f6
- 5. 0-0 b7-b5
- 6. Ba4-b3 Bc8-b7
The Arkhangelsk variant was invented by Soviet opening theorists in Arkhangelsk and often leads to sharp positions. White has a few options, including building an ideal pawn center with c2 – c3 and d2 – d4, defending the e-pawn with Rf1 – e1, or a simpler, faster piece development. The variant 6.… Bf8 – c5 is also related, which promises early counterplay in the center.
Fun ski variant
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 Ng8-f6
- 5. Sb1-c3
This classic direct cover, occasionally practiced by Spasski in recent times, also looks at d5.
After b7 – b5 6. Ba4 – b3 Bf8 – e7 7. d2 – d3 d7 – d6 8. a2 – a3 0–0 9. Nc3 – d5 White wants to conquer the bishop pair with Nd5xe7.
Steinitz Defense
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The Steinitz defense after 3.… d7 – d6
The Steinitz Defense or Old Steinitz Defense of the Spanish Game is created according to the moves:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
- 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
- 3. Bf1-b5 d7-d6
The Steinitz defense is classified in the ECO codes under the keys C62 and C66.
The Steinitz defense is considered very solid, but also passive and cramped. Although it was used with preference by the first world chess champion Wilhelm Steinitz and was later played by the world champions and defense experts Emanuel Lasker , José Raúl Capablanca and Wassili Wassiljewitsch Smyslow , it is rarely used today.
Because White can force Black by means of 4. d2 – d4 to give up the center soon with e5xd4, which is a significant but not fatal concession. Then the so-called "small center" arises. In contrast to the "big center", only the e4 and d6 pawns are on the center lines. The Tarrasch Trap and the Ukrainian Immortals are example games. 4.… Bc8 – d7 5. Nb1 – c3 e5xd4 6. Nf3xd4 g7 – g6 and Bf8 – g7 is a modern attempt.
On immediate e5xd4 White can use 5. Qd1xd4 (Bc8 – d7 6. Bb5xc6 Bd7xc6 7. Nb1 – c3 results in Adams - Torre, New Orleans 1920 ) and on 4.… Bc8 – d7 5. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6 through the Nimzowitsch Awarded 6. Bb5xc6 Bd7xc6 7. Qd1 – d3 e5xd4 8. Nf3xd4 strive for long castling. The delayed variant of this defense (the modern Steinitz defense ) with the insertion 3.… a7 – a6 4. Bb5 – a4 d7 – d6 offers Black better chances and is more popular.
The detour 3. Bf1 – b5 Ng8 – f6 4. 0–0 d7 – d6 via the Berlin Defense avoids variants with white 0–0–0. This sequence of moves is therefore called the "Improved Steinitz Defense" . An example game is Capablanca - Bernstein, San Sebastián 1911 .
Modern Steinitz Defense
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The modern Steinitz defense after 4.… d7 – d6
The modern Steinitz defense (also delayed Steinitz defense or Neo-Steinitz defense ) (C72 – C76) arises after the moves:
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 d7-d6
In contrast to the old Steinitz defense, Black switches on the pair of moves 3.… a7 – a6 4. Bb5 – a4 before playing 4.… d7 – d6. The possibility of blocking the pegging of the knight on c6 with an early ... b7 – b5 gives Black more freedom than in the Alte Steinitz Defense. In the Old Steinitz Defense in particular, White can practically force Black to give up the center by means of ... exd4, but in the Modern Steinitz Defense Black can hold the center if he wants. Most of the plausible moves for White are playable here, including 5. c2 – c3, 5. c2 – c4, 5. Ba4xc6 +, 5. d2 – d4 and 5. 0–0.
The extremely hot Siesta variant arises after 5. c2 – c3 f7 – f5, while a positionally shaped game starts with the quieter 5. c2 – c3 Bc8 – d7 6. d2 – d4. The game is also sharp after 5. Ba4xc6 + b7xc6 6. d2 – d4 or 5. 0–0 Bc8 – g4 6. h2 – h3 h7 – h5. The older variants start with 5. c2 – c4 or 5. d2 – d4 and are not so dangerous for Black. After 5. d2 – d4, White must also beware of a well-known opening trap, the Noah's Ark trap .
Sometimes Black inserts the moves 4.… Ng8 – f6 5. 0–0 before d7 – d6, which some authors call the Russian variant . This can enable Black to avoid some variants from the Modern Steinitz Defense in which White castles for a long time. On the other hand, the knight's position on f6 prevents Black from supporting the center with f7 – f6. Michail Chigorin played the Russian variant in the 1890s, and it was later also used by Akiba Rubinstein . The last notable use of the Russian variant was in the 1950s when it was played by some Russian masters.
Another variation is the Awerbach variant .
Janish Gambit
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The Jänisch Gambit after 3.… f7 – f5
The Jänisch-Gambit (ECO-Code: C63) is created after the moves:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
- 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
- 3. Bf1-b5 f7-f5
The Jänisch-Gambit is a very sharp variant in which Black tries to open the f-file to attack and to get the stronger pawn center. He usually sacrifices one or two farmers . Although the gambit is found to be rather dubious by many chess players, it has not yet been refuted and it is occasionally even used as a surprise weapon by grandmasters . The direct acceptance of the pawn sacrifice 4. e4xf5 Black replies with an immediate e5 – e4. The pegging of this advance by 5. Qd1 – e2 is lifted by Qd8 – e7. The exchange 6. Bb5xc6 is now given for the active escape square d4.
The 4th Nb1 – c3 recommended by Eduard Dyckhoff is the main variation. The black pawn center after f5xe4 5. Nc3xe4 d7 – d5 meets the victim 6. Nf3xe5 d5xe4 7. Ne5xc6 .
Closely related to the Jänisch Gambit is the Schliemann Defense (also called Cordel Gambit ), in which the pair of moves 3.… Bf8 – c5 4. c2 – c3 before 4.… f7 – f5 !? is inserted. In reality, this variant, which Adolph Schliemann played in the 1860s, is a gambit variant of the Cordel defense (ECO code C64).
Norwegian Defense
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The Norwegian defense after 5.… Nc6 – a5
The Norwegian defense or wing variant arises according to the sequence of moves:
- 3.… a7 – a6
- 4. Bb5-a4 b7-b5
- 5. Ba4-b3 Nc6-a5
The Norwegian Defense is an aggressive, but somewhat time-consuming alternative for Black, with the aim of the white-squared white runners abzutauschen early. With 6. Bb3xf7 + ?! and subsequent Sf3xe5 + White can now bring a speculative piece sacrifice for two pawns what the black king , the castling destroyed. But with accurate play it is possible for Black to consolidate his position and maintain the multi-piece. The Norwegian Defense has been known since the 1880s and was reintroduced by Carl Schlechter in 1901. In recent times it has been widely used by Norwegian masters.
Fianchetto variant
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The Fianchetto variant after 3.… g7 – g6
The Fianchetto variant , also the Smyslow defense in the Spanish game, (ECO code: C60, not to be confused with the Smyslow variant ) arises after the sequence of moves:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
- 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
- 3. Bf1-b5 g7-g6
The Fianchetto variant is a calm positional system that was occasionally played by Vasily Smyslow and Boris Spassky . It became popular in the 1980s when it was shown that after 4. c2 – c3 a7 – a6! Black has a good game. It was later found out, however, that after 4. d2 – d4 e5xd4 5. Bc1 – g5, White gains an advantage, so that the line is rarely played today. An interesting gambit is the variant 4. d2 – d4 e5xd4 5. c2 – c3, which was suggested by Alexander Khalifman .
The reigning world champion, Magnus Carlsen , has successfully used the fianchetto variant with black several times. So followed z. B. in the game Karjakin-Carlsen (Tata Steel 2016) 3.… g7 – g6 4. 0–0 Bf8 – g7 5. c2 – c3 a7 – a6 6. Bb5 – a4 d7 – d6 7. d2 – d4 Bc8– d7 8. Rf1 – e1 Ng8 – f6 9. d4 – d5 Nc6 – e7 10. Ba4xd7 Nf6xd7, and Black easily equalized in the opening; the game ended in a draw after 31 moves.
Cordel Defense
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The Cordel defense after 3.… Bf8 – c5
The Cordel Defense or Classic Defense (ECO code: C64) begins with the moves:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
- 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
- 3. Bf1-b5 Bf8-c5
The Cordel Defense is possibly the oldest defense in the Spanish game and is still being played. The most common white answer is 4. c2 – c3. The strongest is then 4.… Ng8 – f6. The Schliemann defense 4.… f7 – f5, which is also called the Cordel Gambit , on the other hand, leads to sharp play, which, however, is viewed as disadvantageous for Black by opening theory. The detour 3. Bf1 – b5 Ng8 – f6 4. 0–0 Bf8 – c5 via the Berlin Defense avoids variations with 4. c2 – c3.
Bird defense
This continuation is initiated by Black's third move 3.… Nc6 – d4.
Variants rarely played
Cozio variant
The Cozio variant (ECO code: C60) is created after the trains:
- 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
- 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
- 3. Bf1-b5 Ng8-e7
The Cozio variant is rarely played. Their ideas are similar to the fianchetto variant. Bent Larsen applied them with success.
Alapin variant
The Alapin variant , which emerges after 3.… Bf8 – b4, is named after the Russian chess master Simon Zinovievich Alapin (1856–1923). In his brochure “ On the theory of the Spanish game ” published in St. Petersburg in 1896 , Alapin examines, among other things, this new idea of developing the bishop on a rather unusual field: There is no too captivating knight on c3, analogous to the black knight on c6 , and the bishop can also be questioned immediately with c2 – c3 , which at the same time prepares the center advance d2 – d4. Alapin's main idea only shows its effect a few moves later; after the strongest move 4. c2 – c3 follows
- 4.… Bb4 – a5
- 5. 0–0 Ng8 – e7, this knight move to e7 instead of f6 is another feature of this line, a future pawn advance e4 – e5 would now take place without any gain in tempo.
- 6. d2 – d4 e5xd4
- 7. c3xd4 d7 – d5 (!, Alapin) after swapping on d5, Black takes back with the queen and has an equivalent game. If White then attacks the queen with Nb1 – c3, Black can maintain his central position with Ba5xc3.
Alapin himself used “his” variant in numerous games with varying degrees of success, in the “Kaiser Jubilee Tournament” in Vienna in 1898 in eight of his black games. About 50 years later, a more demanding method against Black's build-up was tried with 5th or 6th Nb1 – a3, which is still considered promising today. With the following Sa3 – c4 the pressure on the center should be increased and the La5 should be exchanged (advantage of the bishop pair ).
Brentano variant
The German philosopher and psychologist Franz Brentano , a nephew of the writers Clemens Brentano and Bettina von Arnim , suggested the move 3.… g7 – g5. In March and April 1900, Brentano published a two-part series of articles " New Defense of the Spanish Part " in the Wiener Schachzeitung , in which he presented the merits of this new idea in an extensive analysis. In the June 1900 edition of the Deutsche Schachzeitung , Brentano's treatise was heavily criticized by Johann Berger - one of the editors - by pointing out numerous inadequacies in the first main variant. It was only three years later that Brentano published a third and final part of his article in the Wiener Schachzeitung.
The master games at the turn of the century contained in the chess databases contain only one game from 1904 in which Carl Schlechter - next to Berger the second editor of the Deutsche Schachzeitung at the time - used Brentano's move in a competition against Richard Teichmann . The game ended in a draw after 25 moves .
White's basic continuation against the wing attack now consists of the center advance 4. d2-d4, with which the g5-pawn is attacked a second time. Brentano now suggests 4.… Nc6xd4 (after 4.… e5xd4 5. Bc1xg5 f7 – f6 6. Bg5 – f4 White is clearly better because of the development lead and Black's bad position in the king). After 5. Nf3xd4 e5xd4 6. Qd1xd4 Qd8 – f6 7. e4 – e5 (Teichmann played weaker here Bc1 – e3) White is again better.
literature
- Andrew Greet: Play the Ruy Lopez . Everyman, London 2006, ISBN 1-85744-427-2 .
- Gary Lane: The Ruy Lopez explained . Batsford, London 2005, ISBN 0-7134-8978-2 .
- Neil McDonald: The Ruy Lopez: Move by Move . Everyman, London 2011, ISBN 978-1-85744-669-2 .
- Nikolaos Ntirlis: Playing 1. e4 e5 - A Classical Repertoire , Quality Chess U. K, 2016. ISBN 978-1-78483-014-4 .
- John Shaw : Starting Out - The Ruy Lopez . Everyman, London 2003, ISBN 1-85744-321-7 .
- Chess strategy for advanced players 1 + 2, Sportverlag Berlin , 1976.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Harold JR Murray: A History of Chess . Oxford University Press, London 1913, pp. 784 .