Sunday, November 19, 2006

Chess: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Open Variation) Part II

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Nxe4
6 d4 b5 7 Bb3 d5 8 dxe5 Be6 9 c3 Bc5 10 Nbd2
10 ... O-O 11 Bc2 Bf5 12 Nb3 Bg6 13 Nfd4 Bxd4
14 cxd4 a5 15 Be3 a4 16 Nc1 a3 17 b3 f6 18 exf6
18 ... Qxf6 19 Ne2 Nb4 20 Bb1 Qe7 21 Re1 Nxf2
22 Bxf2 Bxb1 23 Rxb1 Rxf2 24 Kxf2 Rf8+ 25 Nf4
25 ... Rxf4+ 26 Kg1 Re4 27 Qd2 Nd3 28 Rf1 Rxd4
29 Rf3 Nf4 Line




What's the game plan for Black?

* Pressurize White's f2 pawn starting with
5 ... Ne4 and 9 ... Bc5.

* Consolidate the ensconced e4 knight by
11 ... Bf5.

* Attack White's queenside via 14 ... a5,
15 ... a4, 16 ... a3, and 19 ... Nb4.

* Advance 17 ... f6 in order open up the
f-file and expose the f2 pawn to additional
fire from the f8 rook.

* Sacrifice material on f2 so as to force
the White monarch out into the open
(21 ... Nxf2, 23 ... Rxf2).
* Take advantage of the exposed King to
gain compensation for the deficit on f2
(24 ... Rf8+, 25 ... Rxf4, 26 ... Re4, 27 ... Nd3,
28 ... Rxd4, 29 ... Nf4).


What's the game plan for White?

* Dislodge the errant e4 knight (10 Nbd2,
11 Bc2, 13 Nfd4, making f2-f3 a possibility)

* Respond accordingly to Black's queenside
threats (16 Nc1, 17 b3).

* Contain Black's queenside play (12 Nb3, 15 Be3)
and strengthen the targetted f2 pawn (15 Be3).


Also available:
Chess: Understanding the Closed Ruy Lopez
(Flohr-Zaitsev Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-closed-ruy-lopez.html
Chess: Understanding the Ruy Lopez
(Schliemann Defense)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-ruy-lopez.html

For explanations of moves 1 through 4 please refer to Understanding the Closed Ruy Lopez
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-closed-ruy-lopez.html.

1 e4



1 ... e5



2 Nf3



2 ... Nc6



3 Bb5



3 ... a6




3 ... Nf6
3 ... f5
3 ... g6
3 ... Bc5
3 ... Nd4
3 ... Nge7
3 ... d6
3 ... Bb4
3 ... Be7
3 ... a5
3 ... Qe7
3 ... Qf6
3 ... Nb8
3 ... Na5
3 ... Bd6
3 ... f6
3 ... Nce7

3 ... a6 (Closed Ruy Lopez)
3 ... a6 (Open Ruy Lopez Part I)
3 ... a6 (Marshall Gambit)

3 ... d5? 4 Nxe5 Qg5 5 Nf3 Qe7 6 e5.
3 ... g5? 4 d4 Nxd4 5 Nxd4 exd4 6 Qxd4 Qf6
7 e5 Qe7 8 O-O c6.

4 Ba4




4 Bc4
4 Bxc6
4 Be2
4 Bd3


4 ... Nf6




4 ... d6
4 ... b5
4 ... f5
4 ... Nge7
4 ... g6
4 ... Be7
4 ... Bc5
4 ... Qf6
4 ... Nd4
4 ... g5
4 ... f6
4 ... Bb4


5 0-0



(i) Securing the King
(ii) Activating the h1 rook

Protecting e4 via 5 Qe2, 5 d3, or 5 Nc3
is also an option.

5 Bxc6
5 c3
5 d4 b5 6 dxe5 Nxe4 7 Bb3 Nc5 8 Bd5.
5 d4 Nxd4 6 Nxd4 exd4 7 e5 Ne4 8 Qxd4 Nc5 9 Nc3.
5 d4 Nxe4 6 Qe2 b5 7 d5 bxa4 8 Qxe4 Nb8 9 d6.
5 d4 Nxe4 6 Qe2 b5 7 Qxe4 d5 8 Qe3 bxa4 9 Nxe5 Nxe5
10 Qxe5+ Be6.
5 d4 Nxe4 6 Qe2 f5 7 d5 Na7 8 Nxe5 Qf6 9 Nd3.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 d5 8 Nxd4 Bd6 9 Nxc6 Bxh2+
10 Kh1 Qh4 11 Rxe4+ dxe4 12 Qd8+ Qxd8 13 Nxd8+ Kxd8
14 Kxh2 Be6.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 d5 8 Nxd4 Bd6 9 Qf3 O-O
10 Nxc6 bxc6 11 Bxc6 Bxh2+ 12 Kxh2 Qd6+ 13 Bf4 Qxc6
14 Nc3 Bf5.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 d5 8 Nxd4 Bd6 9 Qh5 O-O
10 Nxc6 bxc6 11 Bxc6 Rb8 12 Qxd5 Bxh2+ 13 Kf1.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 d5 8 Nxd4 Bd6 9 f3 Bxh2+
10 Kxh2 Qh4+ 11 Kg1 Qf2+ 12 Kh1 Qh4+.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 d5 8 Nxd4 Bd6 9 f3 Bxh2+
10 Kf1 Qf6 11 Nxc6 O-O.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 f5 8 Nxd4 Qh4 9 g3 Qf6
10 Bxc6 bxc6 11 f3 Bc5 12 c3 O-O 13 fxe4 fxe4.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 f5 8 Nxd4 b5 9 Bb3 Qh4
10 g3 Qf6 11 Nxc6 dxc6 12 f3.
5 d4 exd4 6 O-O Nxe4 7 Re1 f5 8 Nxd4 b5 9 Bb3 Nxd4
10 Qxd4 Bb7 11 f3.

5 ... Nxe4



Inaugurating the Open Variation of the Ruy
Lopez. Black is now a pawn up. However, he'll
soon be forced to return it.


5 ... Be7
5 ... b5
5 ... Bbc5
5 ... d6
5 ... Bd6


6 d4!



(i) Attacking the e5 pawn a second time
(ii) Threatening d4-d5 in order to attack the c6 knight
and cramp Black's game in the center.

6 Re1
6 Bxc6
6 Qe2
6 Nc3


6 ... b5



Black wants to deter d4-d5 by playing ... d7-d5.
However, an immediate 6 ... d5 would give White
a powerful attack against the Black monarch:

7 Nxe5

Attacking the c6 knight in conjunction with the
a4 bishop

7 ... Bd7

Protecting the knight a second time

8 Nxf7

And the onslaught begins!

8 ... Kxf7 9 Qh5+ g6 10 Qxd5+ Kg7 11 Qxe4.

7 Nxe5 Bd7 8 Nxf7 Kxf7 9 Qh5+ Ke6 10 Bb3
10 ... Be8 11 Qg4+ Ke7 12 Re1.
7 Nxe5 Bd7 8 Nxf7 Kxf7 9 Qh5+ Ke6 10 Bb3
10 ... Nb4 11 Re1.

So, Black first eliminates this danger by
chasing away the bishop.

6 ... exd4 gives White a small advantage as
in Capablanca-Ed. Lasker, New York 1915:
7 Re1 d5 8 Nxd4 Bd6 9 Nxc6 Bxh2+ 10 Kh1!
10 ... Qh4 11 Rxe4+ dxe4 12 Qxd8+ Qxd8
13 Nxd8 Kxd8 14 Kxh2.

6 ... Be7
6 ... exd4
6 ... d5


7 Bb3



7 Nxe5
7 d5


7 ... d5



7 ... Be7
7 ... exd4


8 dxe5



Gaining his pawn back and attacking d5 a second time.

8 Nxe5
8 a4
8 c4
8 Nc3
8 Re1


8 ... Be6



Protecting d5.

8 ... Bd6
8 ... Ne7


9 c3



Keeping a tab on d4 and providing the bishop with
a retreat square on c2. Once there, the bishop can
help to remove Black's knight from e4 and fire down
at his kingside along the b1-h7 diagonal.

9 Nbd2
9 Be3
9 Qe2
9 a4
9 Re1
9 Nc3


9 ... Bc5



The bishop teams up with the e4 knight to pressurize f2.

9 ... Be7

10 Nbd2



Headed for b3, once the white bishop redeploys to c2.
From b3, the knight can menace the c5 bishop and also
keep an eye on d4.

10 Qd3
10 Qe2
10 Bf4
10 Bc2
10 a4


10 ... 0–0



Securing the King.

10 ... Nxf2

11 Bc2



The forward e4 knight is now attacked twice
but protected only once.

11 Qe2

11 ... Bf5



So Black gives it additional protection.

11 ... Nxf2
11 ... f5
11 ... Nxd2


12 Nb3



12 ... Bg6



Otherwise following 13 Nxc5 Nxc5, Black loses
the bishop to 14 Bxf5.

12 ... Bg4
12 ... Bxf2+
12 ... Bb6



13 Nfd4



(i) Attacking the c6 knight.
(ii) Blocking the c5 bishop's view of f2 and
consequently relieving some of the pressure
off that pawn.
(iii) Entertaining hopes of a timely f2-f3.

13 a4
13 Bf4
13 e6
13 Qe2
13 Nbd4
13 Bxe4


13 ... Bxd4



Determent against 14 Nxc6.

13 ... Nxe5? 14 Bxe4 Bxd4 15 cxd4 dxe4 16 dxe5.
13 ... Nxe5? 14 Bxe4 Bxd4 15 cxd4 Bxe4 16 dxe5.
13 ... Nxe5? 14 Bxe4 dxe4 15 Nxc5.
13 ... Nxe5? 14 Bxe4 Bb6 15 Bxg6 Nxg6.
13 ... Nxd4 14 cxd4 Bb6 15 f3 Ng5 16 Bxg5 Qxg5
17 f4 Qh4 18 f5 Bh5 19 Qd2 f6 20 e6 c6.

14 cxd4



14 ... a5



A space gaining maneuver. For the next few moves,
White's queenside will come under persistent pressure.

14 ... Qd7 15 Nxc6 Qxc6 16 Be3 Rfe8 17 f4 Nxc3 18 bxc3 Qxc3
19 f5 Qxe3+ 20 Kh1 Rxe5 21 fxg6 hxg6 22 Bb3.
14 ... Qd7 15 Nxc6 Qxc6 16 Be3 Rfe8 17 f4 Nxc3 18 bxc3 Qxc3
19 Bd4 Qxc2 20 Qxc2 Bxc2 21 Rfc1 Bd3 22 Rxc7.
14 ... Qd7 15 Nxc6 Qxc6 16 Be3 Rfe8 17 f3 Nxc3 18 Qd2 Bxc2
19 Qxc2 Rxe5 20 Rae1 Ne2+ 21 Rxe2 Qxc2 22 Rxc2.
14 ... Qd7 15 f4 Nxd4 16 cxd4 f6 17 Be3 Rad8 18 Qe2 Kh8
19 Rac1 c6 20 Bd3 Rc8 21 Rc2 Bf5 22 Rfc1.
14 ... Qd7 15 f4 Nxd4 16 cxd4 f6 17 Be3 fxe5 18 fxe5 Rxf1+
19 Qxf1 Rf8 20 Qe2 Qe6 21 Rf1 Rxf1+.
14 ... Qd7 15 f4 Nxd4 16 cxd4 f5 17 Be3 Bf7 18 Rc1 Be6
19 Bd3 c6 20 Rc2 Rac8 21 b4 Ra8 22 Qc1.
14 ... Qd7 15 a4 Nxe5 16 f4 Nc6 17 Nxc6 Qxc6 18 f5 Qb6+
19 Qd4 Qxd4+ 20 cxd4 Bh5 21 Bf4 c6 22 h3.


15 Be3



Reinforcement for d4 and f2. The bishop is ideally
placed to frustrate Black's thematic ... c5.

15 Bd3 a4 16 Bxb5 Nb4 17 Nd2 Nxd2 18 Bxd2 Nc2
19 Rc1 Nxd4 20 Bg5 Qxg5 21 Qxd4 Be4 22 g3 Qh5.
15 Bd3 a4 16 Bxb5 axb3 17 Bxc6 Ra6 18 f3 Rxc6
19 fxe4 bxa2 20 Rxa2 Bxe4 21 b3 Qb8 22 Ba3 Qa7.

15 ... a4



15 ... Nb4 16 Bb1 a4 17 Nd2 a3 18 Qc1 Ra6 19 bxa3 Rc6
20 Qb2 Nc2 21 Rc1 Nxe3 22 Rxc6 Nxf2 23 Nf1.

16 Nc1



16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4 23 Rc1 Rb6 24 Qb1 h6 25 h3 Ra7/
25 ... Rab8.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4 23 Rc1 h6 24 h3 Rb6 25 Qb1 Ra7/
25 ... Rab8.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4 23 a3 f6 24 axb4 fxe5 25 b5 Nxd4.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4 23 a3 bxa3 24 Rxb8+ Rxb8
25 Rxb8+ Nxb8.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4 23 h3 h6 24 Rc1 Rb6 25 Qb1 Ra7.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4 23 h3 Rb6 24 Qc2 Rab8 25 Rc1 R8b7.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 b4 22 Rc1 Rfb8 23 Rbc2 b3 24 axb3 Nb4 25 Qe2 Nxc2.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 b4 22 Bd2 Rfb8 23 Rfb1 Qg4 24 Be3 Rb6 25 h3 Qc8.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2 18 Rb1 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bxe4 dxe4
21 Rxb5 Nxd4 22 Rc5 Rfd8 23 Bxd4 Qxd4 24 Qxd4 Rxd4
25 Rxc7 h6.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 dxe4 18 bxa3 Na5 19 a4 b4 20 Rb1 Rb8
21 d5 Qe7 22 Qd4 Rfd8 23 Qc5.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Rb1 axb2 18 Nxe4 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 Rfb8 22 Rfb1 b4.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Rb1 axb2 18 Nxe4 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bd3 Bxd3
21 Qxd3 b4 22 Rc1 Rfb8 23 Rbc2 b3 24 axb3 Nb4 25 Qe2 Nxc2.
16 Nd2 a3 17 Rb1 axb2 18 Nxe4 Bxe4 19 Rxb2 Qd7 20 Bxe4 dxe4
21 Rxb5 Nxd4 22 Rc5 Rfd8 23 Bxd4 Qxd4 24 Qxd4 Rxd4
25 Rxc7 h6.
16 Nd2 f6 17 Rc1 fxe5 18 Nxe4 dxe4 19 d5 Ne7 20 Bc5 Rf7
21 d6 cxd6 22 Qxd6 Qxd6 23 Bxd6 Nd5 24 Bxa4 bxa4.
16 Nd2 f6 17 Rc1 fxe5 18 Nxe4 dxe4 19 d5 Ne7 20 Bg5 Rf7
21 Re1 Qxd5 22 Qxd5 Nxd5 23 Bxe4 Bxe4 24 Rxe4.

16 ... a3



16 ... Nb4 17 Bb1 a3 18 b3 c5 19 dxc5 Nc6 20 Ne2 Qe8 21 f4 d4
22 f5 dxe3 23 Bxe4.
16 ... Nb4 17 Bb1 a3 18 b3 c5 19 Ne2 cxd4 20 Bxd4 Rc8 21 f3 Ng5
22 Bxg6 hxg6 23 Rc1 Ne6 24 Qd2 Nc6 25 Bf2.
16 ... f6 17 f3 fxe5 18 dxe5 d4 19 Bxd4 Nxd4 20 Bxe4 Bxe4
21 fxe4 Rxf1+ 22 Qxf1 Nc2 23 Rb1.
16 ... f6 17 exf6 Qxf6 18 Ne2 Nb4 19 Bb1 Nd6 20 Nf4 Bxb1
21 Qxb1 Nc4 22 a3 Qe7 23 Re1.

17 b3



17 bxa3 Rxa3 18 Bb3 Nc3 19 Qd2 b4 20 Nd3 Bxd3 21 Qxd3 Na5
22 Bc2 Qh4 23 Bc1 Rxa2 24 Rxa2 Nxa2.
17 bxa3 Rxa3 18 Bb3 Nc3 19 Qd2 b4 20 Nd3 Bxd3 21 Qxd3 Qa8
22 Bd2.
17 bxa3 Rxa3 18 Bb3 Nc3 19 Qd2 b4 20 Nd3 Nxa2 21 Nc5 Rxb3
22 Nxb3 Nc3 23 Nc5 h6 24 f3 Qe7.
17 bxa3 Rxa3 18 Nd3 Nc3 19 Qd2 Na5 20 Bb3 Nxa2 21 Nc5 Nxb3
22 Nxb3 Qa8 23 Nc5 Nc3 24 Qb2 b4.
17 Rb1 f6 18 f3 fxe5 19 fxe4 Rxf1+ 20 Qxf1 exd4 21 Bd2 Ne5
22 Bf4 Nc4 23 b3 Nb2 24 Nd3 dxe4.

17 ... f6



The idea is to open up the f-file and build up pressure
against f2 (... Rf8/ ... Qf6/ ... Ne4)

17 ... Nb4 18 Bb1 c5 19 dxc5 Nc6 20 Ne2 Qe8 21 f4 d4
22 f5 dxe3 23 Bxe4.
17 ... Nb4 18 Bb1 c5 19 Ne2 cxd4 20 Bxd4 Rc8 21 f3 Ng5
22 Bxg6 hxg6 23 Rc1 Ne6 24 Qd2 Nc6 25 Bf2.

18 exf6



18 f3
18 e6

18 Nd3 fxe5 19 Nxe5 Nxe5 20 Bxe4 dxe4 21 dxe5 Qxd1
22 Rfxd1 Rfd8 23 h3 Bf7 24 Rxd8+ Rxd8 25 Rc1 Rc8.
18 Nd3 fxe5 19 Nxe5 Nxe5 20 Bxe4 dxe4 21 dxe5 Re8 22 Rc1.
18 Nd3 fxe5 19 Nxe5 Nxe5 20 Bxe4 Bxe4 21 Bxe5.
18 Nd3 Re8 19 f3 fxe5 20 Nxe5 Nxe5 21 fxe4 Nd7 22 e5 Bxc2
23 Qxc2 Nf8 24 Rf3 Qd7 25 Raf1 Ng6 .
18 Nd3 b4 19 Qe1 fxe5 20 Nxe5 Nxe5 21 dxe5 Qe7 22 f3 Nc3
23 Bxg6 hxg6 24 Bd4 Rf5 25 Qe3 c5.
18 Nd3 b4 19 Qe1 Qe7 20 f4 fxe5 21 dxe5 d4 22 Bd2.

18 ... Qxf6



19 Ne2



Moving to a more active square and allowing White's
first rank to communicate.

19 ... Nb4



Attacking the bishop and enabling a timely ... c5.

19 ... Qe7 20 Rc1 Nb4 21 Bb1 Rae8 22 Nc3 Nxc3
23 Rxc3 Bxb1 24 Qxb1 c6 25 Bc1 Qe1 .

20 Bb1



White wants to maintain his bishop pair.

20 ... Qe7



Shielding the errant b4 knight and minding the e-file,
particularly e3.

20 ... c5 21 f3 Ng5 22 Qd2 Ne6 23 Bxg6 Qxg6 24 dxc5 Nc2
25 Rad1 Rad8.
20 ... Rae8 21 Ng3 Re6 22 Bxe4 dxe4 23 Qd2 Nd3 24 f3 exf3
25 Rxf3 Qe7.

21 Re1



The rook challenges the Queen's e-file presence.

21 Qe1 Rfe8 22 Nf4 Bf7 23 Qc1 c5 24 dxc5 Qf6
25 Bxe4 Rxe4.
21 Qe1 Rfe8 22 Nf4 Bf7 23 Nd3 Nxd3 24 Bxd3.

21 ... Nxf2



22 Bxf2



22 ... Bxb1



23 Rxb1



23 ... Rxf2



24 Kxf2



24 ... Rf8+



25 Nf4



25 Kg1 Qe3+ 26 Kh1 Nd3 27 Rf1 Rxf1+ 28 Qxf1 Nf2+
29 Kg1 Nh3+.

25 ... Rxf4+



26 Kg1



26 ... Re4



27 Qd2



27 ... Nd3



28 Rf1



28 ... Rxd4



29 Rf3



29 ... Nf4



By ChessCoach@care2.com




















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