Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 bd g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 pd b6 c6 bl d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 nl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 g1 h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6
ECO C68-C69
Named after Ruy López de Segura, Libro del Ajedrez, 1561
Parent Ruy Lopez
Synonym(s) Spanish Game, Exchange Variation
Chessgames.com opening explorer

The Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening that begins with the moves

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Bxc6

Black can take the bishop with either pawn; however 4...dxc6 is almost always played at the master level. Black has the bishop pair but a worse pawn structure, due to his doubled pawns on c6 and c7. In the Exchange Variation, by swapping pieces White aims to reach an endgame in which he has the better pawn structure, which is an important factor.

There are two ECO classifications for the Exchange Variation. ECO code C68 looks at 4...dxc6 and White's response of 5.d4 or 5.Nc3 to either of the captures. Note that White cannot capture the e5 pawn with 5.Nxe5 because of 5...Qd4, forking the knight and the pawn, thus regaining the material. Black has many responses to the popular 4...dxc6 5.0-0 (The Barengdt Variation, which Bobby Fischer played with great success with the white pieces). Now White is threatening to play 6. Nxe5 because when 6...Qd4, 7.Nf3, and if Black tries to grab the pawn back with 7...Qxe4, 8.Re1 pins and wins the queen. ECO code C68 examines these responses to 5.0-0: 5...Qf6, 5...Qe7, 5...Bd6, 5...Bg4 or 5...Qd6 (all directly defending the e5 pawn, except 5...Bg4, which indirectly defends the pawn by pinning the knight which was attacking the pawn). The moves 5...Be6, 5...Be7, and 5...Ne7 are rare moves and are yet to become popular. The idea of these moves is that if White tries to win the pawn with 6.Nxe5, 6...Qd4 7.Nf3 Qxe4 is playable, since the Black's minor piece on e6 or e7 blocks the pin. ECO code C69 is concerned only with the continuation 4...dxc6 5.0-0 f6 6.d4, with Black responding 6...exd4 or 6...Bg4.

Contents

[edit] Barengdt Variation

There are several main replies to the Barengdt Variation, 5. 0-0.

[edit] 5... Bg4

The most aggressive move against the Barengdt Variation is 5...Bg4. After 6.h3, Black has a few possibilities such as 6...Bh5 or 6...Bxf3, but the most modern and active variation is 6...h5. White cannot take the bishop with 7.hxg4 because Black plays 7...hxg4, attacking the knight. When the knight moves, 8...Qh4 is a decisive move, threatening checkmate with 8...Qh2# or 8...Qh1#. After 8...Qh4, if White tries 9.f3, trying to run to f2 after a queen check, Black simply replies 9...g3, and White has no way to defend checkmate on the next move.

After 6...h5, the most common continuation is 7.d3 Qf6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Re1 Ng6 and now an interesting line: 10.hxg4?!. This move looks terrible at first sight, as explained earlier, but here this move is playable indeed. After 10...hxg4, 11.g3! offering back the piece (White should not try to hold onto the knight, as it would be similar to the position after 7.hxg4?? hxg4). After 11.g3 gxf3 12.Qxf3, White is safe and has a better pawn structure in the middlegame and endgame.

[edit] 5... f6

A move that was popular amongst masters during Fischer's reign and is still popular today is 5...f6. White's most active and modern approach to this defense is 6.d4, after which Black had two options: 6...Bg4 and 6...exd4. The move 6...Bg4 can be met also by two options: 7.dxe5 and 7.c3. On 7.dxe5 Qxd1 8.Rxd1 fxe5, White cannot take the e5 pawn with the knight because the knight is pinned by the bishop. However, multiple trades have happened, making the position closer to an endgame, which is beneficial for White because he has the better pawn structure.

The second move against 5...f6 6.d4 is 6...exd4. White should play 7.Qxd4, offering a trade of queens which Black should take or else he is clearly worse. After 7...Qxd4 8.Nd4 c5 9.Nb3 (9.Ne2 is another line; however Fischer often preferred 9.Nb3) and White will develop freely by developing their bishop to e3, their b1 knight to c3 or d2 depending on the position and bringing one of their rooks to d1, usually the rook on f1.

[edit] 5... Qd6

The move 5...Qd6 is very similar to 5...f6. White will play 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 c5 8.Nb3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 reaching a position basically with White achieving an extra tempo of the rook on d1. Also, Black's pawn is now on f7, not f6.

[edit] 5... Bd6

The other main move in the Barengdt Variation is 5...Bd6. White again goes 6.d4, where Black can play either 6...exd4 or 6...Bg4.

The move 6...exd4 is not the best move. White captures the pawn back with 7.Qxd4 and stands clearly better. An example of a massacre where Black is on the losing side is as follows: 7... f6 8.Nc3 Bg4? 9.e5! attacking the g4 bishop with the queen and the d6 bishop with the pawn. Black fought back with 9...Bxf3, but White played 9.exd6 and Black cannot capture the pawn because their bishop on f3 is hanging. Black played 9...Bh5 10.Re1+ Kf8 11.Qc5, attacking the bishop on h5 while threatening dxc7 discovered check, winning the queen. Black played a few more moves until resignation.

The move 6...Bg4 is the better move in this line. White has a couple of possible moves, but the best line is 7.dxe5 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Bxe5. Numerous trades have occurred, so White is satisfied.

[edit] References

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