Igor Zaitsev

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a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
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Zaitsev Variation in Ruy Lopez

Igor Arkadyevich Zaitsev (born May 27, 1938) is a Russian grandmaster of chess. He was born in Ramenskoe, a town outside of Moscow. In 1969, Zaitsev attained the title of Moscow Champion by defeating Yakov Estrin using the Giuoco Piano opening. The next year, Zaitsev was given the title of International Master and in 1976 he became an International Grandmaster.

Zaitsev is best known for his contribution to opening game theory. His variation of the Ruy Lopez opening (known as the Zaitsev Variation) follows one of the main lines of the Ruy Lopez and remains in wide use today. In the Zaitsev Variation, black plays 9... Bb7 after the following moves have been played: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3. The move is popular because it fianchettoes the light-squared bishop, putting pressure on White's pawn on e4.

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