The Spanish Chess Opening
Spanish Chess opening history
The Spanish Chess Opening (or Spanish Game or Ruy Lopez Opening) is named after the Spanish clergyman and player Ruy Lopez de Segura. Ruy Lopez was a Spanish priest lived in sixteenth century in Spain. Except writing about this opening, he also recommended placing the board so that the sun shines in the opponent's eyes...
However this chess opening history goes even further back, being firstly mentioned in a German manuscript dated on 1490. Popular use of the Spanish opening did not develop, however, until the mid-1800s when Carl Jaenisch, a Russian theoretician, "rediscovered" its potential.
During the history, it has been one of the most studied chess openings and it still remains the most commonly used amongst the open games in master play; it has been adopted by almost all players at some point in their careers and many have played it with both colors.
Opening move sequence
1 e4 e5, 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5
Ruy Lopez's characteristic third move (3 Bb5) threatens the Black Knight on c6 that is protecting the pawn on e5. However, if White actually tries to take the pawn, he will end up worse off (4 Bxc6 dxc6, 5 Nxe5 Qd4 or 5...Qg5). The merits of the move are different; it develops the piece, clears the way for castling, and potentially pins the Knight on the Black King. On the other hand since there is no immediate threat Black can select from a variety of responses.
After 3 Bb5 the variations can be for the simplicity divided into defenses that use 3...a6, known as Morphy Defense lines, and those that do not involve this move.
Morphy Defense lines
This is the most popular line in Spanish opening. It forces White to take a decision with regard to the Bishop. Bishop can either take Knight or retreat to a4; other options are considered bad. If White retreats he should be careful not to let the Bishop be trapped in b3 after Black advances the queen side pawns. Closed Defense is the course of action most often selected in reply and will proceed 4 Ba4 Nf6, 5 0-0 Be7. After that Black threatens 6...b5 and 7...Nxe4. White responds with 6 Re1 threatening 7 Bxc6 and 8 Nxe5. Black replies by 6 ...b5 leading to 7 Bb3, or 6 ...b6. Due to above reasoning, the play unusually proceed; 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0. Most Spanish opening games reach this point.
From here the game may proceed: Pilnik Variation (9 d3), Bogoljubow Variation (9 d4 Bg4), Chigorin Variation (9 h3 Na5), Zaitsev Variation (9 h3 Bb7), Breyer Variation (9 h3 Nb8), Karpov Variation (9 h3 Nd7), Kholmov Variation (9 h3 Be6), Smyslov Variation (9 h3 h6).
However, White's sixth move in Closed Defense may lead to alternative variations: Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred (6.Bxc6), Centre Attack (6.d4), Worrall Attack (6.Qe2), Averbakh Variation(6 Re1 d6), Trajkovic Variation (6 Re1 b5, 7 Bb3 Bb7) and Marshall Attack (6 Re1 b5, 7 Bb3 0-0, 8 c3 d5).
Alternatives after 4 Ba4 are Norwegian Defense (4 ... b5, 5 Bb3 Na5), Graz Defense (4 ... b5, 5 Bb3 Bc5), Moller Defense (4 ...Nf6, 5 0-0 Bc5) and Classical Defense Deferred (4 ... Bc5). Other rare variations include Schliemann Defense Deferred (4...f5), Arkhangelsk Defense (4 ... Nf6, 5 0-0 b5, 6 Bb3 Bb7), Modern Archangel Defense (4 ... Nf6, 5 0-0 b5, 6 Bb3 Bc5), Russian Defense (4 ... Nf6, 5 0-0 d6), and Open Defense (4...Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4).
Exchange Variation (4 Bxc6) is another very popular variant; it's idea is destruction of Black's pawn skeleton, isolating pawns, and then exchanging pieces to get to the end game where White's better pawn structure will have the advantage. Black on the other hand will be able to preserve both Bishops.
Variations without 3 ... a6
Of the variations that do not use 3 ... a6, the most popular is Berlin Defense (3 ... Nf6). This is a solid variation with a tendency for a drawn match. Under it, White will generally castle (4 0-0), then Black can select either dependable 4 ... Nxe4 or more aggressive 4... Bc5. After 4 ... Nxe4, the play is likely to proceed; 5.d4 (5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 is a possibility) Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8. White ending up with a slight lead because of the better pawn skeleton and centrally placed Black King without the ability to castle. On the other hand Black has both the Bishops and solid defensive position.
Another option for Black is Schliemann Defense (3 ... f5!?). This move involves risky and exciting play, during which Black will try through sacrificing pawns to open up the "f" file to gains initiative. Some consider this line as not sound, but it has appeared in very highest level of chess.
Classical Defense (also called Cordel Defense (3...Bc5)) is the oldest continuation of Spanish chess opening, though not much popular now. 4 c3 f5 will end up in confused positions that lead to a result instead of a draw. 4 c3 Nf6 is more solid and may continue 5 0-0 0-0, 6.d4
Steinitz Defense (3 ... d6) was once popular, but now is not played at high levels. This variation usually gives a reliable, though somewhat cramped, position for Black.
Other, even less popular, variations are Cozio Defense (3 ... Nge7), Bird's Defense (3 ... Nd4) and Smyslov Defense (3...g6).
The Spanish chess Opening falls under the category of open game chess openings. It has huge numbers of variations, that are categorized under the ECO codes C60 to C99. For your use, see in chess viewer below 50 best wins of White in this opening, played by greatest chess players in history.
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