In fact, the first of our suggestions has such little theory you won’t find more than a handful of games in your database.

There aren’t many chess players who expect to find such a novelty within an unassuming opening like the Caro-Kann opening. There’s no need to find a new opening when such moves exist to spice up your current opening.

Here’s IM Robert Ris to show you another way of playing against the Caro-Kann Advance Variation, just in case our suggestion (3…Qc7) proves a little too spicy.

The 3…Qc7 often transposes to the 3…c5 variation recommended by Robert. One of the advantages of playing 3…Qc7 is you will get your opponent thinking. He is more likely to be ready for 3…c5 so holding back …c5 can give you an edge.

Caro-Kann Opening: Advance Variation with 3…Qc7

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Qc7

Warning: Although sound and offering good chances for a win, playing 3…Qc7 is stepping into unknown territory.

Always keep in mind this move poses unique problems, and if your opponent plays the best moves against it, you can transpose. Often this transposition is to the lines with 3…c5.

Take this opportunity to create new chess opening theory!

The queen on c7 performs two essential tasks:

1. the queen places pressure on e5 (this pressure is increased after …Nc6),
2. and it eyes the bishop on c1.

Many Caro-Kann players will continue with standard moves like c3, Bd3, and Nf3.

4.Bd3 is the move favored by the chess engines (Komodo Dragon 2, and Stockfish) when play might continue 4…c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.f3 Bd7 8.Be3 e6 9.f4 Qb6

The assessment by the engines is that White stands slightly better, but Black can exchange a lot of pieces on d4 if he chooses.

When you have less space, exchanging pieces is an excellent strategy. 

Remember the …Bg4-d7 maneuver because it induces a weakness in the Black kingside, and you can use it in the Panov Variation too!

Notice too how the queen on c7 and knight on c6 put tremendous pressure on e5. Developing the queen to c7 makes it extremely difficult for White ever to play dxc5.

Now you know it is possible to play an opening with little to no chess opening theory.

Caro-Kann Opening: Panov Attack 4…dxc4

After 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 White’s most popular move in the Caro-Kann opening is 4.c4. Black’s usual response is 4…Nf6, but you have the chance to take your opponent into unfamiliar territory with 4…dxc4.

This move was the move GM Anthony Miles liked to play against the Caro-Kann Defense Panov Attack. Despite the support of a strong grandmaster, the move 4…dxc4 has fallen well behind 4…Nf6.

Along with the surprise factor, this variation is excellent for beginners because the opening moves are natural developing moves. The only other surprising move is to remember is 6…Bg4.

Play continues thematically after 4…dxc4 with 5.Bxc4 Qc7 6.Bb3 Bg4, which takes advantage of the fact Qxg4 leaves the bishop on c1 hanging. After 7.f3 Black retreats the bishop to d7.

The bishop maneuver …Bg4-d7 is necessary to deprive the White knight of the f3-square. In this position, White usually plays either 8.Ne2 or 8.Nc3.

Black’s moves are logical, easy to remember, and well-suited for one of the best chess openings for beginners. When White chooses 8.Ne2 Black must be aware of Bf4 attacking the queen on c7. 

Bf4 can be met with …Bd6, and if White plays Bg5, then Black can develop his bishop to e7. The light-squared bishop takes up an excellent position on c6 since the knight will often go …Na6-c7-d5.

As the following game shows, Black still retains winning chances even after the queens are exchanged. 

Schaufelberger, Heinz – Kiss, Pal, 0-1, Balatonlelle IM, 2003

Caro-Kann Opening: Korchnoi Variation with 9…h5

The Korchnoi Variation of the Caro-Kann chess opening is a sound opening that is easy for beginners to play. Although Black accepts doubled-pawns, the extra pawn on f6 can prove very helpful in defense.

There aren’t many openings where Black gets to play …h5 and even fewer where he plays it before White gets in h4.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxf6 exf6 

6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Ne2 Re8 9.Qc2 h5

In the Korchnoi Variation, the pawn on h7 is often targeted by White. You can play the solid but passive 9…h6 or 9…Kh8 followed by …Nd7-f8.

The latter avoids moving the pawns in front of your king. For example, 9…g6 allows White to attack with h4! 

Black can go on the offensive with 9…h5 while enjoying excellent strategic play!

When such an opportunity presents itself, always seize the moment no matter what color you are playing. Because play is strategic, there is very minimal theory to learn.

Studying the mainlines is sufficient to play this variation safely with Black, making it an excellent chess opening for beginners.

Perhaps, the most important reason to include 9…h5 in your repertoire is because pushing the h-pawn up the board is always lots of fun.

What you may find surprising is learning 9…h5 was played in a game between two players rated well above 2700 Elo. The player with the black pieces was none other than Maxime Vachier Lagrave.

So, W. – Vachier Lagrave, M., 0-1, chess.com Speed 2019

Final Thoughts

Even though the Caro-Kann Defense has been around for a long time, there is still room for self-expression. Despite its reputation as a solid opening, which it undoubtedly is, there is no reason you can’t add some spice to the Caro Kann Defense.

We are fortunate to enjoy many online chess options in this day and age and can use them to test new opening moves. No matter what chess opening theory or chess engines say, it would be best if you felt comfortable playing the resulting middlegame and endgame positions.

The suggestions made here don’t need to be your first choices, although they are sound enough to be your main moves. You can keep them as a surprise weapon, use them to transpose to similar variations or to unsettle your opponent and make him think for himself.

If you’re looking for more mainstream moves, which also lead to interesting and exciting positions, then the VECO Vol. 8 The Caro Kann Defense is the course for you. The main lines are covered, including the Two Knights, Advance Variation, and the Korchnoi Variation.

Presented by GM Damian Lemos, IM Ekaterina Atalik, and IM Robert Ris, this course will give you the solid foundation you need to play the Caro-Kann Defense with confidence.

Click here to get instant access and 50% Off! VECO vol. 8 The Caro-Kann Defense

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The Queen’s Indian Defense provides a lot of flexibility and caters to many different playing styles.

Controlling the center with your pieces allows you to delay committing to a fixed pawn structure. Black can adjust his strategy according to White’s approach without any compromises in his own position.

Although it has a reputation for being extremely solid, the Queen’s Indian Defense in chess allows you to play for a win with Black in many variations.

Having a risk-free path to equality is not something to turn down when you are playing Black.

One of the world’s strongest QID players today is Richard Rapport. In this video, IM Hans Niemann shows us one of Richard Rapport’s victories against Andreikin with the Queen’s Indian Defense.

The Queen’s Indian Defense Fianchetto Variation

The most popular choice against the Queen’s Indian Defense by far is the Fianchetto Variation. This is played almost three times more frequently than the Petrosian Variation (4.a3).

In this variation, you can make use of the flexibility of the Queen’s Indian Defense and play the counter-intuitive 5…b5. It’s a perfectly playable line that eliminates a lot of theory and dry positions.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with playing solidly and if you prefer that approach you can instead meet 5.b3 with 5…Bb7. This flexibility is what makes the Queen’s Indian Defense one of the best chess openings for Black against 1.d4.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 b5

Black’s intention is to exchange a wing pawn for a central pawn and create a change in structure. The overwhelming response from White is 6.cxb5, and after 6…Bxb5, Black has achieved his aim.

6.cxb5 Bxb5 7.Bg2 d5 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Ba6 10.Re1 Bb4 11.Bd2

In this position, Black can choose between 11…0-0 and 11…c5. Alexander Beliavsky chose 11…0-0 and obtained an excellent middlegame position with active play for all his pieces.

Abramovic, Bosko – Beliavsky, Alexander G, 1/2-1/2, Nova Gorica op 05th, 2000

The Queen’s Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation (4.a3)

This variation is named after Tigran Petrosian, the ninth World Chess Champion.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3

The idea behind 4.a3 is to play 4.Nc3 without allowing Black to play …Bb4. The Petrosian Variation became very popular after Kasparov‘s success with it in the 1980s.

Playing similar moves against different variations is what makes the Queen’s Indian Defense one of the best openings for Black against 1.d4. This is especially helpful if you can do it in the mainlines of a chess opening.

Black can meet 4.a3 with 4…Ba6.

4…Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 7.e4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Nb3 Nc6

In this position, Black has centralized pieces and bishops on excellent diagonals. White’s light-squared bishop is blocked by pawns on e4 and c4, giving it very few options. 

Take a look at how World Chess Champion challenger Fabiano Caruana played this position with Black.

Safarli, E. – Caruana, F., 1/2-1/2, Vugar Gashimov Mem 2016

The Queen’s Indian Defense: 4.Nc3

White can, of course, ignore the threat of …Bb4 and save a tempo by playing 4.Nc3 instead of 4.a3. Since the vast majority of Queen’s Indian Defense players also play the Nimzo-Indian Defense, meeting 4.Nc3 with 4…Bb4 saves you extra opening study.

This blend of the two defense begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb4

In the mainline of this variation, White ignores the pin and threat of doubled pawns. Instead of dealing with the pin, White pins the knight on f6 with 5.Bg5. 

White is banking on his pin being more potent than the pin on the c3 knight.

Because Black hasn’t castled, nothing stops Black from breaking the pin immediately with …h6 and …g5.

5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.e3 d6 10.Bd3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nxg3

No matter which pawn White recaptures with, Black is fine and can turn the tables on an over-ambitious White player. This is what Judit Polgar did against David Navara.

Navara, David – Polgar, Judit, 0-1, Prague Cez Trophy m, 2010

Final Thoughts

Chess openings where knowing strategy counts for more than cutting-edge theory are much easier to play and make the Queen’s Indian Defense one of the best chess openings for Black against 1.d4.

Although it has been around for many years, many of the world’s top chess players today have played the Queen’s Indian Defense. You can rest assured they wouldn’t play this opening if the best they could do was get a draw.

Even an opening as positional as the Queen’s Indian Defense has tactics which both sides must know. One of the best ways to learn these tactics is from the games of strong players.

IM Hans Niemann has included several games played by himself and others in his 80/20 Tactics Multiplier: The Queen’s Indian Defense. You will not only learn the tactics but see them used in games between top players.

Start playing one of the most reliable and best chess openings for Black today with help from IM Hans Niemann.

Click here for instant access with 50% Off! 80/20 Tactics Multiplier: The Queen’s Indian Defense

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This defense may have many different names – Petroff Defense, Russian Defense, and Petrov’s Defense – but no matter which name you choose it will prove an extremely reliable defense for you against 1.e4.

2…Nf6 throws down the gauntlet at White’s feet and asks if he will take up the challenge of playing for a win or settle for a draw?

When you play Petrov’s Defense, you create an impregnable fortress, not even our silicone friends can breach. In fact, the more time your opponent spends with his chess engine trying to figure out an advantage, the better.

These hours of fruitless searching are sure to dishearten him and make 2…Nf6 the last thing he wants to see on the chessboard.

GM Damian Lemos knows the potential of Petrov’s Defense and shows us how we can meet one of the mainline choices by White.

The first thing to remember is the drawish reputation Petrov’s Defense doesn’t mean you can’t play for a win.

Given that Fabiano Caruana used Petrov’s Defense to keep Magnus Carlsen at bay in their world championship match, there is every reason for you to be optimistic about Petrov’s Defense.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Petrov’s Defense: Cochrane Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7

No matter how strange it looks, Magnus Carlsen has played the Cochrane Gambit. In light of this, the gambit deserves our attention, and we must be prepared to play against it.

This move is designed to unsettle Black and muddy the waters of the opening phase because, objectively, this gambit isn’t sound. 

You won’t find too many games where Magnus Carlsen resigns with White after only 25 moves.

Although the Black king is exposed, Black is ahead in development and has a good position, free of weaknesses.

Apart from muddying the waters, White hopes the two central pawns for the piece and exposed Black king will compensate for the sacrifice. Against the unprepared Black player, it often proves enough compensation.

4…Kxf7 5.d4 c5 6.Nc3 cxd4 7.Bc4+ Ke8 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qe3 Qb6 10.Qg3 Nd4

This line of Petrov’s Defense shows that no matter how it appears on the surface, if your opponent can’t reach your king, the king is safe. 

If Magnus Carlsen couldn’t find a winning attack, then you can safely assume your opponents will struggle to checkmate you.

In fact, 15 moves later, Magnus resigned.

Carlsen, M. (2882) – Yu Yangyi (2752), 2020.01.31, 0-1

Petrov’s Defense: the Popular 6.dxc3

You are likely to face this line often because White’s strategy is simple and direct – castle long and launch a kingside attack. Of course, this is a double-edged strategy and gives Black plenty of winning chances too!

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3

Fabiano Caruana has held this position for a draw in two games against Magnus Carlsen, one game against Mamedyarov, and one game against Maxime Vachier Lagrave. All three of these players were rated over 2800!

6…Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Bc4

Now Black can play either 8…0-0 or 8…Be6

8…0-0 9.Qd2 Ne5 10.Nxe5 dxe5

IM Alina Kashlinskaya was able to neutralize any thoughts of an attack by White by quickly exchanging queens. She then quickly gained the upper hand on the kingside thanks to a pair of connected past pawns.

All it took was 25 moves before her 2528 Elo rated opponent resigned!

Here is how she managed to achieve her impressive victory.

Gunina, V. – Kashlinskaya, A., 0-1, 68th ch-RUS w 2018

In a battle between two 2700 rated players, Duda defeated Grischuk in 33 moves. Duda chose to play 8…Be6 and avoided opposite-side castling by castling queenside too!

Grischuk, A. – Duda, J., 0-1, chess.com Speed 3m+1spm 2018

Petrov’s Defense: 3 Knights

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4

3.Nc3 is a typical response by players who haven’t spent much time preparing to face the Petrov’s Defense. Black plays …Bb4 to remove the defender of the e4-pawn.

In symmetrical positions gaining the bishop pair is not a significant advantage for White.

4.Nxe5 0-0 5.Nd3 Bxc3 6.dxc3 Nxe4 7.Be2 d6 8.0-0 Nd7 9.f3 Nec5 10.Be3 Re8

The next game is an excellent example of how the pawn structure helps Black counter White’s bishop pair advantage. Despite having the bishop pair in an open position, White had to settle for a draw.

Zhang, Zhong – Wang, Yue, 1/2-1/2, Asia Chess Cup, 2012

In Conclusion

Trying to force an advantage in the opening with Black is a risky strategy. However, choosing a sound defense that contains the potential to punish an over-ambitious opponent is an excellent approach.

No matter if you spell it Petroff, Petrof, or Petrov it remains a reliable defense for Black against 1.e4.

The Petroff Defense provides Black with a solid defense against 1.e4 with minimal theory. 

You can use it with confidence, knowing that, at worst, you will gain easy equality in an open position while often taking your opponent into unfamiliar territory.

From an equal position, you will find it easier to punish any mistakes by your opponent if he strives for too much. 

Caruana felt confident enough in the Petroff Defense to use it against the world’s best player. You can feel confident playing it against your opponents.

Despite its undeserved reputation for being drawish and being used by players only seeking a draw, the Petroff Defense is a fighting defense.

The first step to winning is to avoid defeat! The Deep Dive Petroff Defense by GM Damian Lemos will provide you with a rock-solid defense even chess engines can’t break down.

Click here to get instant access to Deep Dive Petroff Defense with 50% off!

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It is a popular opening choice at all levels and the choice of players looking to win as Black against 1.d4.

The reason for this is that many positions in the King’s Indian Defense promise Black more active play than in most other openings. Black is able to avoid early simplifications and can enter unbalanced positions, which allows him to play for more than equality.

From club players to Super-GMs like Hikaru Nakamura, Teimour Radjabov or Garry Kasparov, you regularly see this opening arising on the chess board.

Learning how to play the dynamic, fighting King’s Indian Defense is not as difficult as many chess players believe.

Variation Tree

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7

Fianchetto Variation – 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nf3

Mar del Plata Variation – 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6

Four Pawn Attack – 4.e4 d6 5.f4

Samisch Variation – 4.e4 d6 5.f3

King’s Indian Defense: Questions and Answers

1.) Is the King’s Indian Defense good for beginners?

The King’s Indian Defense is good for players of all levels if you like counter-attacking! Your style of play is more important than your level of play when selecting an opening.

If you prefer safe, solid positions then the Queen’s Gambit Accepted or Queen’s Gambit Declined would be better choices. However, beginners who enjoy tactical battles, counter-attacks, and keeping lots of pieces on the board can confidently play the King’s Indian Defense.

2.) Is the King’s Indian Defense aggressive?

The King’s Indian Defense is a very aggressive opening. Black invites White to take control of the center and if Black doesn’t counter-attack soon he will find himself in a bad position.

3.) Is the King’s Indian a good opening?

The King’s Indian Defense is a very good opening. Many of the greatest players in chess history have played the King’s Indian Defense including two players many regard as the best to ever play chess – Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer.

Other notable players from the past who have played the King’s Indian Defense are David Bronstein, Isaac Boleslavsky, Miguel Najdorf, and Svetozar Gligoric.

4.) Why is it called King’s Indian?

The term Indian Defense was used in the late 1800s and attributed to Indian chess players who were fond of the fianchetto. A famous Indian chess player Moheschunder Bannerjee used it in his games against John Cochrane.

The King’s Indian Defense involves the fianchetto of the king’s bishop and in the Queen’s Indian Defense it is the queen’s bishop that is fianchettoed.

5.) Can you play the King’s Indian as white?

When you play the King’s Indian Defense setup with White it’s known as the King’s Indian Attack.

6.) Is the King’s Indian Defense a system?

Yes, the King’s Indian Defense is a system. A system many players adopt because it can be effective against many of White’s opening moves other than 1.d4 and 2.c4.

The King’s Indian setup is often used against the London System the English Opening, and the Reti Opening.

King’s Indian Defense – Typical Chess Tactics

Active learning is the key to success in chess. To start with, you have the opportunity to dive actively into the King’s Indian Defense, and solve 4 puzzles which feature typical tactical motifs that frequently arise from this opening. Have a go! (You’ll find all the solutions at the end of the article.)

Every opening has its fair share of tactics and the King’s Indian Defense is no exception. GM Bryan Smith has produced many high-quality chess courses and his 80/20 Tactics Multiplier: King’s Indian Defense keeps this trend going strong.

Enjoy the following game between Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura, presented by GM Smith.

The King’s Indian Defense: Basics and Key Concepts

In general, we can classify the King’s Indian as a modern approach to chess openings, where Black allows White to occupy the center with his pawns.

Later, Black tries to challenge to center with the pawn moves …e5 or …c5. In many variations, the resulting unbalanced positions offer scope for both sides to play for a win.

• Not comfortable playing with the Black pieces? Check out this must-read guide on chess openings for Black.

To put it into a simple formula: Black first leaves the center to White and then tries to conquer it back due to his better development.

If you’re looking for an opening with Black against 1.d4 which leads to sharp positions, the King’s Indian Defense might be an interesting choice for you.

For this reason, this opening guide on the King’s Indian Defense provides you with all you need to know about this fascinating opening. What are the key plans and ideas that Black has at his disposal? What are typical tactical motifs for both sides in the King’s Indian? And what are the main lines and the latest theoretical developments for both sides?

All these questions will be addressed in this article.

On top of that, the article features a free three-part video series by GM Damian Lemos who shares some very powerful opening ideas with you in order to help you understand the King’s Indian Defense.

To start with, let’s go for a little journey through time and take a look at an inspirational game that shows the dynamic power of the King’s Indian Defense:

Taimanov, Mark – Najdorf, Miguel, Candidates Tournament, Zürich 1953

This game was played in the famous Zurich 1953 chess tournament. The tournament was a Candidates Tournament for the 1954 World Chess Championship.

The tournament featured 15 of the world’s best chess players at the time and was finally won by Vasily Smyslov, who deserved the right to play a match for the chess crown against the reigning World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik.

Today, the tournament is also famous for the two tournament chess books written by David Bronstein and Miguel Najdorf. The books are considered to be the best tournament books ever written and are still a must-read for every aspiring player with a classical chess education.

Theory Section: The King’s Indian Defense

As mentioned, the King’s Indian Defense starts with the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 (White can also play the Fianchetto Variation with 3.g3) 3…Bg7.

Due to the fact that Black does not challenge White in the center immediately, White has several sensible ways to set up his pieces. Let’s take a closer look at all the important variations which can arise from the King’s Indian Defense.

Opening Experts in the King’s Indian Defense:

If you want to become an expert in your chess opening, it is a wise decision to regularly check the games of the world’s leading experts.

You can watch their approaches against different opening setups and become familiar with the latest trends, fashionable move orders or opening novelties.

If you choose to play the King’s Indian Defense, you have several opening experts you can follow.

Nowadays, the biggest expert in the King’s Indian Defense is most probably Teimour Radjabov, who frequently plays it against all the best players in the world.

Other strong players to follow are Hikaru Nakamura, Alexander Grischuk and Damian Lemos. On top of that, you can also study the games Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer played in the King’s Indian.

Best Games In The King’s Indian Defense 

In order to properly learn a new opening, it is not enough to take a closer look at theoretical lines – you also need to study some classical model games which were played from the opening you want to play.

Checking complete games has various advantages. Most importantly, you get a better overall understanding of the positions arising from your opening. The focus is less on theory than on a general understanding of the resulting middlegame and endgame positions.

As the famous Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan once put it: “Study entire games. Your study can become disjointed if you just learn an opening setup. Don’t just study the opening and early middlegame but instead play the entire game. Don’t just stop when your side has a good position.”

Let’s now take a look at three classical games in which Black (the Super-GMs Garry Kasparov and Judit Polgar) showed how to play the King’s Indian Defense and win:

Piket, Jeroen (2540) – Kasparov, Garry (2775), Tilburg 1989

In the following video, GM Damian Lemos, who has played the King’s Indian many times himself and who is a great expert on this opening, analyzes a beautiful game in which Garry Kasparov demonstrates the enormous attacking potential of this opening.

The game we’re looking at was played way back in 1989. But as wise and successful chess players repeatedly tell us, if you want to improve,  it’s essential to study games by the great masters of the past – the classics.

The game started 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 (4…d5 would lead to another well-known opening – the Grünfeld Defense) 5.e4 d6 (a typical King’s Indian setup) 6.Be2 e5 (GM Lemos tells you why the pawn isn’t simply hanging in the video!) 7.0-0 (see next diagram).

This is the Classical Variation of the King’s Indian. Black has a choice here. He can exchange pawns in the center with 7…exd4 Nxd4. This, however, leads to positions where White has more space and usually a small edge. Other tries for Black are 7…Nbd7 or 7…Na6.

In the game, Kasparov plays the main move, 7…Nc6, and directly puts pressure on the d4-pawn. White is forced to make a decision and goes for the absolute main line with 8.d5. Black’s knight is under attack. He plays 8…Ne7.

Now, as the center is closed, there are new plans for both sides. While White usually tries to start direct action on the queenside with the pawn break c4-c5 (opening the c-file), Black goes for a counterattack on the kingside with the move f7-f5.

In essence, this is a very double-edged position with a lot of risks for both sides. None of the two players can afford to waste time here as each move counts in order to first come up with decisive threats.

In the following moves, both sides try to put their ideas into action. 9. Ne1.

If White plays 9.b4 here, we reach the so-called Bayonet Attack which was considered to be the main line in the Mar del Plata variation of the King’s Indian Defence for a long time. 9…Nd7 (a multifunctional move – preparing f7-f5 and giving extra protection against White’s c4-c5 idea) 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 (the typical pawn storm on the kingside) 13.b4 Nf6 14.c5 Ng6 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Rc1 Rf7 17.a4 Bf8 18.a5 Bd7 19.Nb5 (see next diagram).

White’s last move was a slight inaccuracy. Due to the fact that the knight doesn’t cover the e4-pawn from b5, Black can play 19…g4! without preparing it with the move …h5.

After 20.Nc7, Kasparov consequently followed up with 20…g3!

This is King’s Indian power! Black sacrifices a pawn but this allows him to open lines in front of the White king and to free all of his pieces.

If White takes the pawn with 21.hxg3 fxg3 22.Bxg3, the Black knight comes to h5, both Black knights eye the f4-square, the Black bishop can come to h6 and participate in the game. White is left with an uncomfortable defensive task.

Instead, White took the Black rook on a8 with 21.Nxa8. But this couldn’t save him from losing the game. Kasparov played a series of great moves (you can see them in the video with detailed explanations by GM Damian Lemos). Finally, the following position was reached (see the diagram on the right):

Can you spot the beautiful winning move for Black after which Piket immediately resigned? (You’ll find the solution in the video!)

Nei, Iivo – Boleslavsky, Isaak, Riga 1955 (King’s Indian Saemisch Variation)

This time, GM Damian Lemos analyzes an old game that was played back in 1955. However, if you want to learn the key ideas of an opening it is often a clever idea to study many old games first.

The reason for this is that at that time, people had no databases and chess books with tons of theoretical lines. The players had to analyze their openings on their own.

This meant that if one player found a tricky idea in the opening, it was very likely that the opponent wasn’t familiar with this idea and had to find a solution to it over the board (which – as we all know – is much harder than analyzing a line with an engine at home).

Today, strong chess players know all these ideas and if you take a look at modern games, it is much harder to figure out the basic ideas of certain opening moves. 

The game started 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 (see the diagram on the right).

This is the Saemisch Variation of the King’s Indian Defense. White has built up a strong pawn center. Although the King’s Indian Defense often leads to fantastic attacking positions, resulting in spectacular sacrifices to checkmate the White King, it requires some special understanding.

After all, White is allowed to build a big pawn center and Black must know how to use his pawns to effectively attack it. Piece maneuvers are very important too. There is some essential knowledge to playing the King’s Indian well.

The game continued O-O 6. Be3 e5 (a typical King’s Indian move, challenging the center) 7. d5 c5 8. dxc6 bxc6 9. Qd2 Qe7 (see the diagram on the left).

Up to this point, both players went for very standard moves. But now White made a mistake. He played 10. c5. Maybe White was afraid that Black could go for …c5, …Nc6 and …Nd4.

Of course, if Black takes the pawn with 10…dxc5, White would have excellent compensation for the pawn. But Black has the strong move 10…d5 (threatening …d4 in the next move – White has to take) 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qxd5 Bb7 (see the diagram on the right).

After some exchanges on d5, White is up a pawn, but Black is much better developed.

The game continued 14. Qd6 Qh4+ (Black does not want to exchange queens too early) 15. g3 Qb4+ 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Qxb4 Nxb4 (White managed to exchange queens but at the cost of developing the Black knight) 18. O-O-O Nxa2+ 19. Kb1 Nb4 (see the diagram on the left).

We can stop here and evaluate the position as clearly better for Black. Black has won back his pawn and still has the much more active pieces.

If you’d like to watch the whole game with a brilliant finish and listen to the detailed explanations by GM Damian Lemos, you should definitely watch the whole video! GM Lemos tells you how to smash your opponent in the King’s Indian Saemisch Variation.

Further Study:

• Part 1: King’s Indian Defense Sämisch Variation,(iChess Club)
• KPart 2: King’s Indian Defense Sämisch Variation, (iChess Club)
• King’s Indian Attack vs Four Pawns Variation (iChess Club)

Ruban, Vadim (2590) – Polgar Judit (2630), Groningen 1993

The game started with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bg5 d6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 e5 8. O-O (see the diagram on the right).

So far, both players went for very logical moves. Black went for the typical …e5-move in order to gain space in the center. But how to continue?

In the game, GM Judit Polgar expanded on the kingside and went for the bishop pair. This plan is quite reasonable as the position is relatively open and as we all know, the bishop pair can be an immense asset in open positions. 

Let’s see how Judit played: 8… h6 9. Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh5 11. dxe5 Nxg3 (Black managed to exchange his knight for White’s bishop) 12. hxg3 dxe5 13. Qc2 13… f5 (Black tries to grab even more space on the kingside) 14. Rad1 14… c6 (protecting the d5-square) 15. Nd2 (see the diagram on the left).

The position at hand is already favorable for Black. White’s knights have no outposts, whilst Black has great squares for all his pieces.

In the game, GM Polgar successfully went for a direct attack against White’s king – 15…h5!? Black wants to open files on the kingside. The tactical justification of this move is that 16.Bxh5 would lose to 16…g4 17.e4 Qg5 (trapping the bishop).

16.e4 f4 17.gxf4 gxf4 (Polgar managed to open the g-file) 18.Bxh5 Qh4 19.Bf3 Nf6 (bringing all pieces into the attack) 20.Qb3 Kh8 (a prophylactic move against a discovered check after c4-c5 with Black’s king still on g8) 21.Rfe1 Ng4! (see the diagram on the right).

Black’s attack is already very strong. White is forced to take the knight due to the threat of …Qxf2.

The game continued with 22.Bxg4 Bxg4 23.f3 Rad8! (another strong attacking move, occupying the d-file and threatening to take on d2) 24.Nf1 (see the diagram on the left). 

White has no counterplay at all in this position. Of course, Black could simply retreat his bishop to e6 and claim that he’s got a fantastic position.

GM Judit Polgar, however, found a more concrete approach on how to win this game. She went for 24…Bxf3! Can you spot the beautiful idea she had in mind when playing this move?

You’ll find the solution in the video!

Learn more about the King’s Indian Defense

The King’s Indian Defense is one of the best openings for club players, and you should consider giving it a try to expand your horizons.

Black leaves the center to White in the opening, develops his pieces to sensible squares first and only then strikes back to conquer the center.

The King’s Indian Defense offers you excellent chances to win your Black games against 1.d4-players. With a lot of pieces on the board and with strategically and tactically complex positions, the player who better understands the opening usually wins.

This guide will get you started with this chess opening. If you enjoy this opening and want to master the King’s Indian Defense, we’ve got a fantastic offer for you.

GM Damian Lemos is an expert on the King’s Indian Defense and has produced a comprehensive 9-hour opening course in which he teaches you how to approach this opening with the Black pieces. Click here to get Lemos Deep Dive: King’s Indian Defense for half price.

Solutions To The Test Positions:

• Top Left Corner: 1…e5! 2.dxe5 dxe5 3.Bg3 e4 wins a piece.
• Bottom Left Corner: Black can play 16…Nfxe4! 17.fxe4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4  Qxg5 with a clearly better position.
• Top Right Corner: Black wins after 1…Rxa1 2.Rxa1 Nxf2! 3.Qxf2 Nd3 and half of White’s pieces are hanging.
• Bottom Right Corner: Black can destroy White’s center with 10…Nfxe4! 11.Nxe4 Bf5! Bd3 Bxe4 13.Bxe4 f5! and Black wins back his piece with a good position.

Other interesting articles for you:

• Bobby Fischer’s System – An Introduction to the King’s Indian Attack
• The Reversed KID – Chess Openings for White – IM Irina Bulmaga
• Secrets of the Middlegame – Unexpected Tactical Chess Opportunities – GM Danny Gormally
• Too Hot To Handle: The King’s Indian Defense – move by move with Chessable
• The iChess Club is a membership that offers chess lovers like you a wide variety of premium benefits. Check it out.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

In 1561, Ruy Lopez de Segura published a book on chess called Libro del Ajedrez (Book of Chess) in which the Ruy Lopez appeared. Since then it has been used regularly by every World Chess Champion and is often one of the first openings beginners learn.

It is also one of the most heavily analyzed openings in today’s game and continues to enjoy incredible popularity at all levels (elite players such as Vishy Anand, Fabiano Caruana, and Magnus Carlsen frequently play the Ruy Lopez).

The Ruy Lopez is a classical opening based upon classical strategies and development. This makes it a great learning tool for anybody serious about improving their chess understanding. Learn more about this exceptional chess opening from GM Marian Petrov.

A Classical Opening for the Improving Chess Player

On the one hand, many chess players love to play the Ruy Lopez as it’s exceptionally versatile. There is still plenty of room to maneuver and discover new ideas for both sides! On the other hand, many players don’t like playing this chess opening because the Ruy Lopez opening theory is very extensive.

However, the Ruy Lopez chess opening is considered essential to the development of any promising player. Its strategic nature, typical tactics plus the fact it leads to both open and closed positions make it perfect for deepening general chess understanding.

By all means, say a silent thank you to Ruy Lopez de Segura for his efforts in keeping this wonderful opening alive.

Essential Variations in the Ruy Lopez

The best way to master the Ruy Lopez opening theory is to start with the mainlines and expand your knowledge through analysis of your games.

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

Exchange Variation: 4.Bxc6

Noah’s Ark Trap: 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4?!

Peter Svidler’s 6.d3: 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3

Closed Ruy Lopez: 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3

There is nobody better than GM Marian Petrov to help you learn a chess opening. He has put together a high-quality 10-hour course that teaches you all you need to know. Now you can master the Ruy Lopez chess opening and theory.

Questions and Answers

1.) Is the Ruy Lopez a good chess opening?

The Ruy Lopez is one of the most reliable openings for both sides and teaches you a lot about chess. Start by learning the typical strategies before moving on to the Ruy Lopez opening theory.

2.) Is the Ruy Lopez aggressive?

In the Ruy Lopez, it’s possible for White to play very aggressively on both sides of the board.

3.) What is the point of the Ruy Lopez?

There are many options for White in the Ruy Lopez. These options include a strategic battle or a battle where White attacks on the kingside and Black on the queenside.

4.) Is the Ruy Lopez an opening for white?

The Ruy Lopez is one of the classical openings for White and held in high esteem by many of the greatest chess players to have played the game.

5.) Is the Ruy Lopez good for Black?

Black has many choices to help him reach positions where he feels most comfortable. These options range from the super-solid Berlin to the fighting Open Variation, and the extremely classical Closed Variation.

6.) How do you beat the Ruy Lopez?

White can choose whether to play on the queenside or launch a direct attack against the Black king. The Ruy Lopez bishop is a potent attacking weapon and a White knight will often take up a great attacking position on f5.

7.) How old is the Ruy Lopez opening?

The Ruy Lopez is named after a Spanish Priest Ruy Lopez de Segura and is more than five hundred years old.

8.) Is the Ruy Lopez for beginners?

Because the Ruy Lopez teaches you so much about chess it is an ideal opening for beginners. Thanks to what you learn by playing the Ruy Lopez it won’t be long before you shed the beginner label.

Two Excellent Reasons to Play the Ruy Lopez

If you don’t already play the Ruy Lopez, here are 2 reasons why you should start:

1. Vishy Anand insists the Ruy Lopez and the Sicilian Defense are the 2 essential openings to understand if you want to understand chess.
2. Mikhail Botvinnik claimed Polugaevsky was held back from being a World Championship contender because he didn’t play the Ruy Lopez.

The great Lev Polugaevsky, who competed at the very highest level during the ’60s and ’70s, was a fantastic Sicilian player but his neglect of the Ruy Lopez meant he lacked the deep strategic understanding of the likes of Karpov and Korchnoi, the latter player being able to beat him twice in the Candidates.

Due to the fact that every 1.e4 player needs to have an answer against 1…e5, the following article is devoted to the Ruy Lopez chess opening and theory. Learn how to play this chess opening well and you’ll become a better strategist and evaluate complex positions with accuracy.

The Ruy Lopez – One Of The Best Chess Openings For Beginners

The Ruy Lopez is so popular it’s hard to find a player who hasn’t played it at some point in their chess career. Ruy Lopez de Segura has certainly helped many chess players improve their game thanks to his work with this opening.

It’s considered to be one of the best openings for beginners because it typically leads to open games, with a lot of play for both sides. Mastering the fundamentals of this opening isn’t rocket science and today we will go over the basics to get you going.

The Opening Moves of the Spanish Game

The Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Games) begins with the following moves:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 (see the diagram on the right)

One of White’s key ideas is to quickly control the center. This is achieved by placing a pawn in the center on the first move (1.e4), a move that also liberates the White’s light-squared bishop and queen.

By playing 2.Nf3, White immediately attacks the Black central pawn on e5. Afterward, White moves his bishop to b5 from where it threatens to eliminate the knight on c6, Black’s piece that protects the pawn on e5. With these three moves, White immediately puts pressure on the center.

Following these ideas, White achieves the 3 main goals of any opening: control of the center, rapid development, and preparation for castling to safety.

Unsurprisingly, there are many variations to choose from in this chess opening for both sides. In the following article, we want to provide you with an overview of three of the most common lines.

The Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation

One line that is frequently played is the Exchange Variation. This variation is sometimes used by lower-rated players who want to create doubled pawns for their opponent as quickly as possible. The variation starts with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6. White has managed to create doubled c-pawns in black’s camp, in exchange for the bishop pair.

Now, taking the e5-pawn with 5. Nxe5 is no good because Black has the strong response 5…Qd4, forking the knight and the e4-pawn. Black threatens to capture the e4-pawn with check, forcing the queen exchange and preventing White from castling. Therefore, White should stay away from this line.

White has a couple of moves at his disposal on move 5 (5.0-0, 5.Nc3, 5.d4). A good line to illustrate the key imbalances of the Exchange Variation continues 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 (see the diagram below):

Understanding the Structure Ensures Success

One way to reduce the Ruy Lopez opening theory is by learning the different pawn structures that occur in the mainline variations. Above all, one of the structures you definitely must know is the doubled-pawns of the Exchange Variation.

This position shows the basic Exchange Variation pawn structure. White already has better control of the center and has stuck Black with doubled pawns. These doubled pawns can either be a weakness or a strength, depending on how Black uses them and how White fights against them.

In a late endgame with many of the pieces traded off, this doubled pawn will be a big problem for Black because his pawn majority on the queenside (4 vs 3) is nullified. On the other hand, White’s pawn majority on the kingside (4 vs 3) will be able to be converted into a passed pawn.

However, with pieces on the board, however, this doubled pawn is less of a liability. Besides the pawn majority problem for Black, he does have an extra half-open file available that White does not have. Both sides have the open d-file to use but only Black has the half-open e-file leading towards the e4-pawn that could be a potential target.

Black can also fight against White’s center pawn with an eventual f5 pawn push. If White’s e-pawn disappears, then the position will open up more and Black’s two bishops will prosper. Black can also begin to push his c-pawns to c5 and c6 in order to control more space. Factoring in the pieces, White’s best plan is to keep up his control of the center, advance his pawn majority on the kingside and try to trade pieces so that he can be closer to a king and pawn endgame that is winning for him.

Black, on the other hand, should try to open up the position as much as possible so that his bishops will be better, try to trade off the doubled pawn if possible, fight against White’s center, and avoid trading pieces.

The Closed Ruy Lopez

Instead of taking the knight after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6, White’s main move by far is 4.Ba4. Therefore, the main idea behind Black’s move 3…a6 is that after the usual retreat 4.Ba4, Black always has the opportunity of playing the move …b5, breaking the potential pin against along the a4-e8 diagonal. Thus, after 4.Ba4, White has to be careful to not fall for a common opening trap in the Ruy Lopez – the Noah’s Ark Trap.

The Noah’s Ark Trap – A Key Chess Opening Trap To Avoid With White

If you want to play the Spanish Game with White, you definitely need to be aware of this trap. Many chess players who start playing the Spanish fall for this trap and have resigned in less than 10 moves with White.

However, 4…d6 is not Black’s main move after 4.Ba4.The main line of the Closed Ruy Lopez goes 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. In the following, we’ll take a look at these moves step-by-step:

The 6.d3 Spanish Game

Looking at the two previous variations, some chess players might want to play the Ruy Lopez, but they desperately wonder how to study all the long variations. For these players, the 6.d3 Spanish comes to the rescue. The variation arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3.

In the following video, the seven-time Russian Chess Champion Super-GM Peter Svidler analyzes in detail the Spanish with 6.d3, which cuts off most of the Ruy Lopez opening theory. No need to study the Marshall Gambit, the Chigorin, or the Breyer. If you are looking for a solid, non-theoretical opening that will confuse your enemies, then you have to check out the Introduction to the 6.d3 Spanish by Peter Svidler. 

Five Notable Spanish Games Played By World Champions

The Ruy Lopez continues to be popular at the highest level and it is games like these that keep it so popular. There can be no doubt these games would have brought Ruy Lopez de Segura much joy if he were with us today.

By all means, feel free to use what learn from them in your own games

Anatoly Karpov – Wolfgang Unzicker, 1974.06.18, 1-0, Olympiad Final-A, Round 4, Nice FRA

Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov, 1986.09.15, 1-0, Kasparov – Karpov World Championship Rematch, Round 16, London ENG / Leningrad URS

Mikhail Tal – Johann Hjartarson, 1987.02.20, 1-0, Reykjavik Round 2, Reykjavik ISL

Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov, 1990.12.15, 1-0, Kasparov – Karpov World Championship Match, Round 20, Lyon FRA

Magnus Carlsen – Hans Krogh Harestad, 2003.07.23, 1-0, XXV Politiken Cup, Round 9, Copenhagen DEN

Conclusion – Dominate with the Ruy Lopez

The Ruy Lopez Opening (Spanish Opening) has been played for some 500 years and is renowned for its rich, strategic play. We owe many thanks to Ruy Lopez de Segura for bringing it to our attention.

It has been used regularly by every world chess champion and is often one of the first openings beginners learn.

It is not only one of the best openings for beginners but also played at master level, with opening theory developed as far as to move 30.

If you are picking an opening to play for yourself, you may very well choose the Ruy Lopez. You will enjoy many successful chess games while paying homage to a humble monk named Ruy Lopez de Segura.

After becoming a much stronger chess player, you can keep on playing it, without a need to dramatically alter your repertoire. The best way to get a feel for this opening is to practice playing with both colors and conducting post-game analyses. You will get a feel for where to place the pieces, understand the key positions and maneuvers.

Another great method to get a feel for the opening is going over annotated Grandmaster’s games. You can absorb many key ideas that will help you in your own games.

Finally, you need to build up a coherent opening repertoire step-by-step. For this reason, we’ve got a special deal for you. Click here to get instant access to a 7 hour video series on the Ruy Lopez, with 50% off.

See also:

• Best Chess Openings – A Definitive Guide
• The Open Ruy Lopez – Winning Chances Aplenty!
• How To Learn Chess Openings – The Definitive Guide
• 3 Best Chess Openings for Beginners: The Definitive Guide
• 5 Chess Strategy Tips for Beginners (That Work Fast) – The Definitive Guide
• 7 Beginner Chess Endgame Tips (That Work Fast)
• The iChess Club is a membership that offers chess lovers like you a wide variety of premium benefits. Check it out.

Long Castling In the French Defense Exchange Variation

Thanks to WIM Camelia Ciobanu, and your iChess Club membership, you no longer need to find yourself stuck in a dull position. Opposite-side castling in the French Defense Exchange Variation will give you every opportunity to launch a vicious attack against the White king.

Any player choosing to play the French Defense Exchange Variation with the white pieces deserves nothing less!

Like all good plans, the strategy for Black is simple and effective. There are two crucial moves to remember when you’re setting up your attack.

Black must:

1. develop the knight to e7 instead of f6, and,
2. use this vacant square to play the f6-pawn advance.

Apart from keeping the f6-square available for the pawn by developing your knight to e7, you allow …Bf5 challenging White’s strong bishop on d3. White isn’t forced to exchange on f5, but it will enable you to set up an excellent queen and bishop battery with …Bf5 and …Qd7.

A standard move by White is h3 to prevent the knight on f3 being pinned by …Bg4, so the queen and bishop battery will often prove a great combination in opening up the king. The …Bxh3 is a very thematic sacrifice when Black has a bishop on d6.

Black gets two pawns for the bishop and threatens checkmate on the h2 square after …Qxh3.

Before sacrificing material playing…Rdg8 is a good move. The rooks on g8 and h8 do an excellent job of supporting the pawn advance.

In Conclusion

This effective strategy for Black is so powerful even mass exchanges and getting queens off the board didn’t help White. The advanced pawns proved decisive in more than one game.

There is no better feeling for a French Defense player than punishing White for his timid play. The good thing is that at the club level, many players choose the Exchange Variation against the French.

You can meet the French Defense Exchange Variation in chess with little risk to yourself and enjoy an interesting game to boot.

Watch the Full Video with iChess.club

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]]> https://www.ichess.net/blog/veco-long-castling-french-defense/feed/ 0 https://www.ichess.net/blog/ruy-lopez-chess-opening-variations/ https://www.ichess.net/blog/ruy-lopez-chess-opening-variations/#respond Sat, 02 Oct 2021 21:05:23 +0000 https://www.ichess.net/?p=2781328 The Closed Ruy Lopez chess opening variations are a sound choice at all levels and will also help your general improvement as a chess player.

Many beginners shy away from the Ruy Lopez because of the theoretical workload. The Closed Ruy Lopez is a classic opening where the first nine moves are very thematic.

Remember, when you see an opening variation in the Closed Ruy Lopez of 15 moves, the first 9 moves will be well-known to you.

The Closed Ruy Lopez is extremely popular but it isn’t Black’s only option and knowing how to meet Black’s alternatives to 3…a6 is essential. Here is GM Damian Lemos to show you how to meet 3…Bc5.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Let us take a look at the three main variations of the Closed Ruy Lopez:

• the Chigorin Variation,
• the Breyer Variation, and
• the Zaitsev Variation.

The Closed Ruy Lopez Chigorin Variation

The Chigorin Variation is the most popular variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez by almost 3000 games. The other two, the Breyer and Zaitsev Variations, are neck-and-neck for second in popularity.

Many players are drawn to the Chigorin Variation because it offers complicated and strategic positions. Although White enjoys an enduring space advantage, this variation is perfectly playable by Black.

This should not put you off because all it takes is a little preparation to gain a nice opening advantage.

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 Na5

10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.d5 Nc4 13.b3 Nb6

One of the many good things that make the Ruy Lopez one of the best chess openings for White is that you get to play across the whole board. White will expand on the queenside with moves like a4-a5, and transfer his knight to support his expansion on the kingside.

Take a look at how Veselin Topalov makes use of his knights to support his kingside pawn-storm against strong chess grandmaster Alexei Shirov.

Topalov, Veselin (2735) – Shirov, Alexei (2736), 1-0, 2017.01.07

The Closed Ruy Lopez: Breyer Variation

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 Nb8

Black intends to bring the knight to d7 where it helps support his center, can easily reach the kingside to help defend, or put pressure on White’s center from c5. This is a super-solid system that has withstood the assault of chess engines.

Once again White gets to play across the board after closing the center with d5. What makes the Ruy Lopez one of the best chess openings for White is that you get a position that is easier to play than your opponent’s position.

White’s advantage might seem slight but it is a long-lasting advantage!

10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6

White’s position is built upon classic chess principles, and it is no surprise that from such a strong position White can choose where to attack. This is what makes it one of the best chess openings for White.

When facing the Breyer variation, Grandmaster Zigurds Lanka chose to start by playing on the queenside but ended the game by attacking the kingside. Even the simplification of material and establishing a strong knight on d3 was not enough to save Black.

Lanka, Zigurds – Meszaros, Michal, 1-0, CZE-chT 0809, 2009.03.21

The Closed Ruy Lopez: Zaitsev Variation

This variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening for Black is a favorite of former world champion Anatoly Karpov. In light of this, we must not take the variation lightly.

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 Bb7

10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a3

The move 12.a3 is a tricky move by White. White intends to see if Black will play 12…h6 or 12…g6.

If Black plays 12…g6 White will keep the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal where it places pressure on f7. However, if Black plays 12…h6 White will place the bishop on c2.

In the Closed Ruy Lopez there is a lot of maneuvering by both sides with pieces getting developed and undeveloped. The many good strategies available to White is what makes the Ruy Lopez one of his best chess openings

Because White has many good strategies to choose from, in the Ruy Lopez chess opening, understanding the ideas and recognizing the patterns is crucial to playing the Closed Ruy Lopez.

Look at how Indian GM Harikrishna maneuvered his pieces in his victory against Ivanchuk.

Harikrishna, P. – Ivanchuk, V., 1-0, World Rapid 2017

Final Thoughts on One of the Best Chess Openings for White

The Ruy Lopez is one of the best chess openings for White and has the added advantage of teaching much more than only opening play. Become a better, more well-rounded chess player by taking time to learn this classic opening.

There is a lot to learn when playing the Ruy Lopez but much of this is related more to middlegame technique than the opening. Take it slowly and you will find yourself marveling at the richness of this opening.

Start playing this opening today and learn why many regard it as not only one of the best chess openings for white, but one of the essential openings for white too!

Of course, Black doesn’t have to enter the Closed Ruy Lopez and has different third move options in the Ruy Lopez chess opening. A well-prepared White player must know how to meet these moves and GM Damian Lemos will help prepare you for them.

His Deep Dive Ruy Lopez Part 1 course will have you ready to face Black’s alternatives to 3…a6 with confidence. You will get over 7 hours of grandmaster opening coaching.

Start playing the Ruy Lopez today with the Ruy Lopez Part 1 Deep Dive. Get instant access and 50% Off!

Also, be sure to read:

The chessboard is the battlefield where all you have learned and practiced about the game gets put into action. You can’t play the best chess openings until you’ve got a board to play on.

Sun Tzu advised Generals to choose the ground upon which to fight. Luckily, chess players (like you) get to do exactly that. You can select a chessboard that suits you without having to visit a chess store.

Choosing a chessboard and chess set is partly a matter of practicalities and partly a matter of taste. Do you prefer the feel of a wooden chessboard over vinyl? Everything will be a lot easier if you know what you are seeking.

You would never walk into a car sale yard with no idea about what you want to buy. While it might be possible to find the “perfect” board, more likely, you will need to compromise on some aspects.

As there is a broad market of chess equipment out there, you are spoilt for choice and overrun with dozens of offers!

In this article, we want to facilitate your choice of the correct type of chessboard by concentrating on the following six criteria to make an excellent choice on the right chess board for your purpose:

1. Travel versus Home
2. Aesthetics versus Practicality
3. Size
4. Material
5. Design
6. Price

Ask yourself these questions to choose the chess board that is right for you:

Is the chess board for home, or for travel?

Your first decision when choosing a chessboard is whether you want to play games on the go or at home.

You won’t want to be carrying a heavy or highly ornate set while you are on the road, as it will mean less room for other vacation essentials.

Nomadic chess players will want a board that fits easily into their luggage and won’t suffer wear and tear while moving around.

Such portable sets are likely to be less beautiful. The high-end boards are more suited to stay in the home, which this article will explain later.

If you want a board that is easy to travel with, you could go with a folding board or a small hollow wooden chessboard that lets you keep the chess pieces inside.

Speaking from experience, the hollow board is much more convenient because the pieces you don’t carry pieces in a separate bag. However, a folding wooden chessboard set can be a lot bigger if the size is important to you.

You might also want to consider a magnetic board, so you can play while traveling on buses or airplanes without the risk of the pieces scattering everywhere. Chess is excellent for alleviating the boredom of those long trips.

You can, of course, have more than one chessboard – a bigger, fancier one for the comfort of your own home and a smaller, more austere one for when you are on the road.

Is this board for playing chess or mostly for decoration?

If you are looking for a chessboard for games at home, you will need to consider the question of aesthetics versus practicality.

Maybe you are looking for something to impress your visitors with – the presence of a chessboard can undoubtedly signal to others that you are an intellectual (much in the same way people order shelves full of chess books, even if they never read them).

If the set is purely for decoration, colors become more important – you might choose a chessboard that matches the curtains, for example. You may also go with esoteric, antique designs for the pieces on the board.

Consider buying a wooden chessboard if the room you are decorating has wooden furniture and shelving.

Chess boards are not universally made up of black and white squares. They can be dark brown and light brown (like a wooden chess board), dark blue and light blue, red and pink, or any other combination so long as there is a distinguishable “dark square” and “light square.”

Colors that resemble wood or stone are more conservative – the equivalent of a black suit and blue shirt. Brighter colors show off a bit of flair and can be a lot of fun.

But if you want to play with this set, you should probably choose a design with easily recognizable chess pieces. Difficulty in telling the difference between a pawn, bishop, and rook quickly becomes exasperating.

If the set is for serious play or practice, choose a chessboard and pieces with the “Staunton” design or some similar form that makes it evident to the players which piece is which with only a glance.

Do you prefer a large or small board?

The size of the board depends on whether your chessboard is for the home or travel. It also affects the cost, as naturally larger sets will be more expensive.

Playing with a larger chessboard is particularly important for the visually impaired – it is challenging to play games with small sets if your eyesight isn’t the best.

If you are buying the board separately from the pieces, you should match the size of the pieces to the squares. Ideally, the king’s base should fill 75% of a square on the chessboard.

If you buy the board and pieces together, you shouldn’t need to worry too much as they should already be the right size for each other.

What materials do you like?

Look at other people’s chess boards, decide upon your preferred material, and how important this is to you against other factors when you choose a chessboard.

Usually, the most attractive materials such as wooden chessboards and marble chessboards are more expensive and are also less durable – a wooden chessboard can get scratched, and marble can be chipped.

Still, this shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t travel with your board.

On the other hand, plastic chess sets are cheap and durable, but they feel mass-produced and less authentic.

Numbers and letters on the edges, or not?

Some boards print the letters and numbers that identify each square right on the edge of the board. Such sets show the letters – “a” through “h,” and the numbers – “1” through “8”.

This makes it easier to write down the moves on your score sheet, especially for beginners.

Although, having numbers and letters printed on the chessboard is considered by some to be a little amateurish.

They are a bit like training wheels on a bicycle. A chess player with decent experience should not need any help to know which square is which.

If identifying the squares is already second nature to you, get a set without them.

What is your budget?

As already mentioned, factors such as the material and the size will influence the price of the board. People spend thousands of dollars on other hobbies – think how much golf clubs and sports cars can cost – but it is very rare for even the most expensive chessboards to cost more than a few hundred dollars (unless you get a chessboard which is encrusted with gold, silver, and precious stones!)

Chess is a time-intensive hobby, and it can be worth the extra cost if a nicer set like a wooden chessboard with wooden pieces gives you a lot of pleasure and more enjoyable games.

If you are new to chess, perhaps get yourself a reasonably cheap set with plastic chess pieces first to make sure the game holds your interest – and once you decide it is something you want to take more seriously, you can upgrade to a better set.

A great way to motivate yourself to improve is to promise yourself a new chess set once you reach a particular milestone or manage to beat a specific opponent!

Chess Boards: More Quick Questions and Answers

1.) How much does a good chessboard cost?

The cost of a chessboard can range from under ten dollars to several hundred dollars.

2.) Why are chessboard sets so expensive?

The material and way they are made determine the price. Chess sets are a lot like clothing – you can buy a suit in a store for a lot less than one tailor-made for you.

3.) What is a good chess set to buy?

There are a lot of factors to consider in determining what a good chess set is. It would be best if you considered things like size, whether it will be used in your home or will you travel with it, and your budget.

4.) What chess sets do pros use?

The most commonly used chessboards and sets for tournament games are vinyl chessboards that support pieces 3.75 inches. Staunton is the most widely used and accepted chess piece.

5.) What size chess board should I buy?

The size of the chessboard depends on if you will use it to play games while traveling or mainly in your own home. You want a set that is large enough for you to see the pieces clearly and move the pieces easily.

Start with pieces that are 3.75 inches and a chessboard to support this size chess piece.

6.) Are chess sets worth money?

There are chess sets made from precious materials and gems that are worth lots of money. For example, the Jewel Royale chess set costs more than $1.3 million. Yes, million.

7.) What is the oldest chess set in the world?

The oldest chess set that most closely resembles modern chess pieces is the Isle of Lewis chess pieces. These date back to around 1150. Earlier pieces from the Indian board game chatrang have been found and are from about 760 AD.

3 of the Most Expensive Chess Sets

3.) Jim Grahl Custom Chess Set – $450 000

The cheapest of the three chess sets on our list is the 14th Century European-style chess set.

The collective weight of the pieces is around one lb. (approximately 453 g). The material for the pieces is solid silver and 14-carat gold.

Ebony wood with silver embellishments makes up the board.

Because the sets are custom made, allow a year for delivery.

2.) Royal Diamond Chess Set – $500 000

Bernard Maquin designed the set, which is sold by the Charles Hollander company, in 2005. The work was done by hand and took artisans a total of 4500 hours.

This chess set is made from 1168.75 grams of 14-carat white gold and about 9900 black and white diamonds. In total, the precious materials weigh 186 carats.

1.) Jewel Royale Chess Set – $1.3 million

Although only one piece got made as an example, Boodles will make you the entire Jewel Royale chess set for around $1.3 million. The example piece, a king, is available for about $60 600.

These custom-made chess sets take approximately four months to complete and ship.

For help beating your opponents, check out this great box set from GM Simon Williams.

“GingerGM” Simon Williams has produced a comprehensive 15-hour course in which he reveals the training secrets and shortcuts that helped him become a GM with a fraction of the time and effort it takes most people. Click here to get instant access with 50% off.

Other interesting articles for you:

• How To Solve Chess Puzzles – The Definitive Guide
• Best Chess Openings for Beginners: Queen’s Gambit Declined
• Best Chess Openings for Beginners: Queen’s Gambit Declined

Here is IM Anna Rudolf sharing her wisdom about what to do when you find yourself in an unknown position.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Follow these 4 simple steps and get your chess openings right now:

1) Pawn Structure

Before you invest time in memorizing the moves, play through top games in your opening. One of the basics of chess openings is the pawn structure. With this in mind, while playing through games, see what common pawn structures occur in the games. 

Look at the different middlegame positions and see if they suit your style before you start learning chess openings.

Playing the Benko Gambit does not make sense if you dislike playing a middlegame a pawn down. Dislike doubled-pawns? Then play the Catalan Opening instead of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.

Focus on the mainlines and test them online in blitz games. Concentrate on how you feel playing the opening and middlegame positions more than on the results.

When you are losing games and feeling uncomfortable, then look for another opening.

If you are like most of us, you have limited time to devote to your chess training. In light of this, spending time memorizing moves only to switch openings a week or two later is a waste of your precious time.

2) Decide On Your Opening Goals

Although a gambit might not be well-regarded in theory, if you enjoy open positions and the open files you get, then play it. Feeling confident about the position is more than enough compensation for a pawn.

However, other chess players might want an equal position with Black regarding material and no pawn weaknesses. Obviously, it’s best for them to avoid gambits when learning chess openings.

Do not discount the importance of obtaining an equal position with Black. Remember the advice of Tigran Petrosian, who said, “It is easier to play for a win from an equal position than from a bad position.”

Even with the White pieces, you might find yourself enjoying a position that theory says is equal or only gives a slight advantage to White. In these times of easy access to information about chess, it is essential to realize almost every chess opening is playable for Black.

Instead of forcing an advantage out of the opening, focus on obtaining a middlegame position you enjoy playing.

3) Keep Your Chess Openings Simple

Learning simple chess openings is challenging enough. There will be time later to add complexity to your opening repertoire if needed.

British GM Jonathan Hawkins believes players below 2000 Elo can get by with devoting as little as 10% of their training time to openings. Chess tactics, endgames, and analyzing games will make up the rest of your training time.

Let’s be honest and acknowledge if you are going to spend around 10% of your training time working on your openings, you will need to exclude openings with lots of “must-know” theory and tactics.

Openings like the Sicilian Defense Najdorf Variation and the Grunfeld Defense require more than knowing only the basics of chess openings. 

For example, you might choose the Caro-Kann Defense (1.e4 c6) against 1.e4 and Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6) against 1.d4. Both are sound openings that share a similar pawn structure.

These are two openings you can play for many years, even when you come up against stronger players.

Avoid openings that rely on tricking your opponent or hoping he will make a mistake. These openings won’t work against stronger players and will cost you more time learning new openings.

4) Budget Your Chess Opening Training Time Wisely

The key to getting the most out of your chess training is to make use of game analysis. When you analyze your games, you will cover all phases of the game and expand your knowledge of chess opening basics.

Study the games of top chess players who play the same openings as you and use those games for middlegame training, tactics, and endgame training as they will directly relate to your opening repertoire. 

When you analyze your games, you will naturally expand your chess opening repertoire.

Your main goal out of the opening is to reach a good position in the middlegame that you know how to play well. A point often overlooked is that middlegame study impacts your opening study.

A good starting point is to learn two or three of the crucial variations approximately 10 moves deep. This, coupled with an understanding of chess opening basic principles, will be enough more often than not.

There are many online databases to help you identify the mainlines of your chosen opening.

In Conclusion

Obviously, the importance of the basics of chess openings must not be discounted. A sound chess opening is required to reach a playable middlegame position,

There have been enough games lost early to serve as a timely reminder not to overlook the basics of chess openings. However, it is essential not to go to the other extreme and overemphasize them.

Similarly, the impact the middlegame and even the endgame can have upon your opening repertoire must be kept in mind. Improving your tactical and endgame skills can significantly affect your results, even if you choose to play the most straightforward chess openings.

In fact, you could consider taking on the challenge to see how simple you can make your openings while winning games.

Once you have mastered the basics of chess openings then it’s time to master the middlegame and endgame. IM Anna Rudolf has put together a complete chess course for the improving player.

Don’t hesitate to take your game to the next level. Get your hands on 15 hours of chess training guaranteed to help you improve all areas of your game now.

Click here to get the Anna Anna Rudolf Method with 50% off!

Also, be sure to read:

When your opponent picks off your advanced pawn with a rule you had simply forgotten about, you feel awfully foolish. Don’t let that embarrassment happen to you.

By reading this article, you will learn and understand en passant. Maybe you can even surprise your opponent with en passant and gain a crushing advantage.

French for “in passing”.

French words turn up in several places in chess, due to France’s strong influence on the game, particularly in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and this is another French word that means “in passing”.

The international chess federation is known as “FIDE”, which is a French acronym for Fédération Internationale des Échecs. Also, j’adoube (English: “I adjust”) is said when adjusting a piece’s position on a square without violating the touch-move rule.

Plus there is the French Defense (1. e4 e6 – one of the game’s most solid and resilient openings), and the “Paris Opening” (1. Nh3 – one of the rarest and most outlandish).

If you were to read the official rules of chess cover-to-cover, en passant is there in black and white. Rule 3.7.d, to be precise! “A pawn attacking a square crossed by an opponent’s pawn which has advanced two squares in one move from its original square may capture this opponent’s pawn as though the latter had been moved only one square. This capture is only legal on the move following this advance and is called an ‘en passant’ capture.”

Ugh. It is almost impossible to read such a dry, technical description and nobody learns chess by reading the official rules, cover-to-cover.

That would be like reading the instruction manual before attempting to assemble a piece of furniture! As we all know, most of us disregard tiresomely long reading material, and simply dive in (sometimes with disastrous results).

The en passant Rule

We start in chess by learning how the different pieces move. Some are easy – bishops move diagonally, rooks move horizontally and vertically, queens have both these powers.

Knights, with their “L” shaped movement and ability to jump, are trickier. Pawns, the weakest soldiers, are more difficult still; they normally move ahead one square, except on their first move when they can move two squares, but when they capture, they do so diagonally!

It becomes second nature after a while, but to someone approaching the game for the first time, special cases like en passant can be knowledge gaps. Even a chess instructor may neglect to mention en passant, to avoid confusing their student while they are still trying to understand more common, basic concepts.

En passant is relatively rare, usually appearing less than once per game. In light of this, more common tactics are covered in this Empire Chess bundle by GM Damian Lemos.

Let us try and put the rather confusing explanation from the official rulebook into plain and simple English. The conditions for en passant are:

• The capturing pawn must be on its fifth rank (imagine a White pawn on d5).
• The threatened pawn must have moved two squares from its starting square, and be on an adjacent file. So, if White has a pawn on d5, then Black’s c-pawn and e-pawn could be threatened with en passant capture .
• The capture can only be made on the move immediately after the opposing pawn makes the move, otherwise, the right to capture en passant is lost.
• If all these conditions have been met, the threatened pawn can be removed, as if the pawn had moved only one square. So, if White has a pawn on d5, and Black’s c-pawn advances from c7 to c5, White may capture Black’s c-pawn, and White’s own pawn will move to c6.

An illustration will show what is meant.

Why did the rule-makers see fit to introduce this exception to the way that pawns normally move?

In the early days of chess (over 500 years ago), it was not possible for a pawn to move ahead two squares on the first move. The two-square first move rule was added to speed up the game, but it resulted in a disadvantage for the player whose pawn had made it to the 5^th rank.

Without en passant, pawns on the 5^th rank could be passed by enemy pawns advancing two squares, without risk of capture. This capture was brought in to prevent this and meant pawns moving ahead two squares could be captured by 5^th rank pawns, as though they had moved just one square.

In most places, the en passant rule was adopted at the same time as allowing the pawn to move two squares on its first move. Together, they represent two of the last major rule changes in chess as the game evolved from its origins in India.

Why should you play en passant?

Like any chess move, you would only play en passant because you judge it to be the strongest move available to you. I have seen beginning players proudly play it more to show off that they know the rule, only to see their position collapse. Somehow, they feel that if they can play en passant, that they must. This is a mistake.

Due to its relative obscurity, some consider it “unsporting” to play en passant against a relatively new chess player. If your opponent is just getting the hang of playing chess, it seems a trifle unfair to whisk one of their pawns off the board when they weren’t expecting it.

If it is a friendly game, you could try warning your opponent about the possibility of playing en passant, and allow them to take back their move, but the lesson will be better remembered if you are not so merciful. It, after all, a rule of chess, even if a little obscure.

Don’t hesitate to make use of the rule, even if your opponent did not know it. One learns more by losing than one does by winning, and you should never hesitate from an opportunity of giving your opponent a lesson!

Two Games That Show How Dangerous En Passant Can Be

In the first game, Paul Morphy gave his opponent knights odds. Despite these odds, the game only lasted 16 moves.

Morphy uses the en passant rule to deliver the winning discovered check.

Paul Morphy – James Thompson, 1-0, 1859, New York, NY USA

Irina Korepanova used this rule to deliver checkmate in her game against Alexander Tishkov.

Irina Korepanova – Alexander Tishkov, 1-0, 2007.11.23, Round 3 Governor Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk RUS

En Passant in the Endgame

Many chess players’ training routine neglects the endgame. As a reminder here are two examples of how to use and how not to use the en passant rule in chess.

Because captures aren’t forced in chess, knowing when to use en passant and when to avoid it. This skill is similar to knowing which pieces to exchange and which piece exchanges to avoid.

In the following diagram, White plays a4, which is a dual-purpose move. Either White obtains a passed pawn, or he hopes Black will capture the pawn in passing.

Capturing en passant leads to a draw, so Black decides not to capture and plays the winning …b3. This study shows what might happen if Black caught en passant.

The en passant rule can be beneficial in restraining a pawn majority. In this diagram, having a passed pawn causes Black to lose the game because he cannot avoid capture on b6.

Black could play for a stalemate if he didn’t have a pawn on b7, but instead of a draw, White delivers checkmate thanks to the en passant rule.

En Passant: Questions and Answers

1.) Is en passant legal?

Yes, it is a legal chess move.

2.) How many times can you en passant?

There is no restriction on the number of times you can play en passant in a game. Theoretically, the maximum would be eight times in a game because your opponent has eight pawns.

3.) Can you en passant a queen?

No, you can’t en passant a queen because the rule only applies to pawns.

4.) Why does en passant exist?

En passant got introduced to chess to prevent a player from bypassing a capture with his pawn and taking advantage of the two square advance rule for a pawn on its first move.

5.) What is the en passant rule in chess?

This rule allows you to capture an opponent’s pawn if you have a pawn on the fifth rank, and he advances two squares to avoid capture. You can capture the pawn as if it had only advanced one square.

Remember, if you want to capture en passant, you must do it right away! 

This capture is not possible if your opponent advances his pawn one square instead of two on the initial move and then advances it again. 

For example, your opponent plays …e6, and you choose not to capture the pawn with your pawn on d5 or f5. He plays …e5 on the next move. In this instance, you cannot capture en passant because the e-pawn didn’t advance two squares in one move.

6.) Is en passant forced?

No, it isn’t forced. In chess, you aren’t forced to make any capture.

7.) Can en passant take two pieces?

No, you can only take a pawn that advances past your pawn on the fifth rank.

8.) Is en passant optional?

Yes, it is optional. There are no forced captures in chess.

9.) Who invented en passant?

En passant got introduced at the same time the two-square pawn advance entered chess, but the rule was only universally accepted in 1880.

Conclusion – The En Passant Pawn Capture Rule

Now that we’ve cleared up the confusion, keep an eye out for opportunities to play en passant, and if it is the strongest move, go ahead and take advantage of your right to play it! For more ideas check out this recent article about positional vs tactical chess.

We hope this article was informative for you and you are interested to learn more about chess rules and chess pieces now! If you want to make any remarks, then feel free to leave a comment.

If this article motivated you to quickly learn chess, then we’ve got a special deal for you. Learn chess in only 30 minutes with one of the world’s best female chess players – GM Susan Polgar.

On her DVD, Susan quickly teaches you the basic chess knowledge including chess pieces, points, chess rules and moves.

You can also visit our shop on ichess.net! Surely, you’ll find the one or another little treasure trove to start your training and improve your skills rapidly!

Other interesting articles for you:

• What is a Stalemate in Chess?
• Secrets of the Middlegame – Unexpected Tactical Chess Opportunities – GM Danny Gormally
• Zugzwangs in Knight Endgames – Practical Chess with IM Andrey Ostrovsky
• Sergey Karjarkin’s Best Chess Attacks – GM Eugene Perelshteyn

Although often regarded as drawish, White must prove he knows how to play the opening, middlegame, and endgame in the Ruy Lopez Exchange variations, or else Black can turn the tables on him.

Drawish openings are not something Black needs to fear nor does he need to give up on playing for a win in these opening variations. Easy equality early in your games is not a gift to turn down.

Deepen your understanding of the Ruy Lopez Exchange variations and increase your winning chances.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Ideas Within the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variations 

The Ruy Lopez is a classic chess opening for Black against e4, and knowing how to meet the Exchange Variation is essential.

A glance at the resulting king and pawn endgame in the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation is enough to let you know this is something to avoid with Black. Remember, before the endgame, the gods have placed the middlegame.

However, despite wanting to keep pieces on the board, there are beneficial exchanges for Black. Defending the e5-pawn with …f6 means a queen exchange will offset the weakness on the kingside.

The most well-known Exchange Variation is 4.Bxc6, but White can first play 4.Ba4 and exchange on c6 later. White justifies the loss of tempo by saying Black has the opportunity to misplace a piece with 4…Nf6.

The knight on f6 is not misplaced, but Black must know his theory in this line.

The Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation With 5.0-0

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0

This is the move Bobby Fischer chose to play, and it has been played almost 7000 times more than 5.Nc3! Many White players who decide the Exchange Variation are likely to follow Fischer’s approach.

5…f6! is an excellent approach for Black against 5.0-0 and 5.Nc3.

5…f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 c5 8.Nb3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bd6 10.Na5 b5

All of White’s queenside pieces remain undeveloped, and his knight is on the rim. Black has all the time he needs to develop his knight and get his king to safety by castling short.

Lacayo, Rene – Guillen Ramirez, Jose Antonio, 1/2-1/2, Guatemala City zt 2.32, 2000

There is no doubt the White knight is misplaced on b3, so White turned to 8.Ne2

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 c5 8.Ne2

8…Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bd7 10.Nbc3 0-0-0 11.Be3 Re2 12.Rd2 Bc6 13.Rad1 b6

Now White has a choice between 14.f3 and 14.a4. No matter which approach White adopts, Black is holding his own and then some.

Here is Etienne Bacrot to show us an excellent way to play the position with Black. You can feel confident using this line in your games if it gets the seal of approval from a player rated 2718!

Balogh, Csaba – Bacrot, Etienne, 0-1, Corsica Masters rap 08th, 2004 

Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation 7.Qxd4

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4

Allowing the exchange of queens on d4, White doesn’t get to activate his rook on d1 for free. However, it does leave the d1-square free for his queenside rook to occupy.

Unfortunately, this is one of those positions that is almost guaranteed to end in a draw if nobody blunders. There is invariably a line in every opening for White to play if he is determined to settle for a draw. 

7…Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Nc3 0-0-0 10.Be3 Bd6 11.Rad1 Ne7 12.f3 Rhe8

Arakeljan, Armen M – Vasiliev, Vladimir P, 1/2-1/2, Bogoroditsk 07, 2013

Ruy Lopez Delayed Exchange Variation

 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Bxc6 dxc6

All of Black’s moves from this position are natural, developing moves. The one maneuver Black must keep in mind is re-routing the knight on d7 to c6 via b8.

Black must make sure to counter threats against the e5-pawn.

6.d3 Bd6 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.Nc4 Nd7 9.0-0 Re8 10.b3 c5 11.Bb2 f6

The queens are still on the board, so Black has every opportunity to play for the win in this equal position. Take a look at how De Wagner converted the position into a whole point for Black.

Martin Duque, J. – Wagner, De, 0-1, Sunway Sitges Open 2019

White can delay capturing on c6 for another move and play 5.0-0 first. This is known as the Delayed Exchange Ruy Lopez Deferred or Steenwijker variation.

No matter what you call it, Black is doing perfectly fine in this Exchange variation too.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6

Black’s strategy is to re-route a knight to c6 or e6, where it keeps control of d4 with the aid of a pawn on c5. Playing through a couple of games is all the work you need to do for this variation.

Bartel, Mateusz – Tomashevsky, Evgeny, 0-1, EU-Cup 28th, 2012

In Conclusion

Many players choose to avoid openings because of the drawish nature of exchange variations. The Ruy Lopez is such a classic chess opening for black against e4 that you would deny yourself many rewards if you didn’t play it.

Great players of the past and coaches insist this classic chess opening is the cornerstone for understanding chess in general and becoming a well-rounded player. Embrace the Ruy Lopez since you really have nothing to fear from the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation with Black.

Remember, ‘drawish’ does not mean a draw is predetermined. You will get early equality with the black pieces almost effortlessly.

There are many good reasons why this classic chess opening remains so popular today. Play the Ruy Lopez and discover the attraction for yourself.

The ever-popular Deep Dive series delivers comprehensive opening instruction by one of the world’s leading chess coaches GM Damian Lemos. His 1.e4 e5 Bundle for Black covers the Ruy Lopez, sidelines, gambits, and another classic chess opening the Italian Game.

There’s a lot more to the Ruy Lopez than just the Exchange Variations and GM Damian Lemos will cover all of White’s options. Click here to get instant access to the 1.e4 e5 for Black bundle with 50% off!

Also, be sure to read:

The Queen’s Gambit Declined, or QGD, is a chess opening occurring after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 and is one of the most common openings in chess.

Chess openings occur in every chess game. You can’t avoid or sidestep them.

It’s important to have a clear plan of what to do during the first few moves of the game, especially if you’re a novice chess player.

The opening phase builds the foundation for the rest of the game. In the next video, GM Damian Lemos will introduce you to the moves and ideas of this classic opening.

Knowing the openings you play not only helps you to avoid falling for cheap opening traps but also helps you to get a good position in the middlegame. That is the purpose of the opening – not to win in 5 moves with a crazy attack but to reach a good position entering the middlegame that you can work from.

Previously, we analyzed in depth on how to learn and study chess openings and investigated the 3 best chess openings for beginners.

Today, we want to take a closer look at one of these chess openings – the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Most chess openings for beginners, such as the Italian Game, the Ruy Lopez, the Four Knights Game and the Two Knights Defense, all start with 1.e4.

Important Variations in the Queen’s Gambit Exchange Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5

The Trap: 5…Nbd7 – don’t be fooled into thinking Black has blundered a pawn.

The More Orthodox: 5…Be7

Slav Set-Up: 5…c6

When It Comes to Good Opening Moves – You Have Choices

However, as you probably already know, 1.e4 is not the only good first move in chess. Another great opening move you should familiarise yourself with is 1.d4. Even though you may feel like there is not much difference between the two, they lead to very different opening systems with totally different strategies and ideas.

With both moves, 1.e4 and 1.d4, White occupies the center with a pawn right from the word go. However, there is a major difference between 1.e4 and 1.d4. The move 1.e4 liberates White’s light-squared bishop and queen.

Although it is a very positional opening there are Queen’s Gambit Declined traps you must be aware of if you play 1.d4. You can learn about the most common Queen’s Gambit Declined traps in this video by IM Matt Kolosowski.

The move 1.d4, in contrast, liberates the dark-squared bishop and – to some extent – the queen. Moreover, after 1.e4, the king’s pawn isn’t protected, while after 1.d4, the queen’s pawn remains defended by the queen.

These nuances change the opening strategy quite a bit. Each of these moves also forces Black to react differently. Most chess games between beginners start with the moves 1.e4 e5.

However, after 1.d4, Black can’t simply play the move 1…e5. White could simply take the pawn with 2.dxe5 and Black would be a pawn down.

Players have argued, and continue to debate, whether 1.e4 or 1.d4 is the best opening move, however it really boils down to the style of the player. Both have their pros and cons, and both have been seen right up at the top of chess, played repeatedly by the very best players and World Chess Champions throughout history.

Queen’s Gambit Declined

The Queen’s Gambit Declined is one of the most classical responses to 1. d4, and has been played by almost all of the great players in history from both sides of the board. It is definitely one of the best chess openings for beginners. Let’s investigate this opening step by step in our starting position. The Queen’s Gambit begins with the following moves:

1.d4 d5 2. c4 

With the move 2.c4, White threatens to exchange the c-pawn (a flank pawn) for Black’s d-pawn (a center pawn). At the same time, by moving his pawn to c4, White also offers a pawn sacrifice as the c-pawn is unprotected.

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This is why the first opening moves are called the Queen’s Gambit. Black can simply capture the pawn with 2…dxc4. However, this is not a true gambit since Black cannot hang on to the pawn.

White easily wins it back with 2…dxc4 3.Qa4+, recapturing the pawn one move later) or plays 3.e3, threatening to capture on c4 with the bishop on the next move. Black has to be careful to not desperately hold on to the pawn:

Declining the Queen’s Gambit

Instead of accepting the pawn sacrifice with 2…dxc4 (the Queen’s Gambit Accepted), Black plays another logical move:

2…e6

This is what’s called the mainline of Queen’s Gambit Declined. Black declines the “pawn sacrifice” and builds up a solid position.

The Queen’s Gambit Declined lines secure Black strong central control with the pawns on d5 and e6.

Almost all of Black’s pieces can be developed to natural squares. Moreover, the move 2…e6 frees the dark-squared bishop on f8 so it can be developed to e7, bringing Black one step closer to castling.

This makes the Queen’s Gambit Declined lines a good choice if you prioritize king safety.

However, the downside of 2…e6 is that it blocks Black’s light-squared bishop for the moment. In many Queen’s Gambit Declined lines Black’s light-squared bishop gets developed on b7 or exchanged on a6.

3.Nc3

Once White establishes a solid pawn center, it is time to develop the minor pieces. 3.Nc3 is a logical choice since it completes multiple objectives at once: it takes control of the e4 and d5 squares while preventing Bb4+.

At some point in the Queen’s Gambit Declined lines, White wants to play e2-e4 gaining an even greater share of the center. The knight on c3 is there to support this plan.

3…Nf6 4. Bg5

Many beginners would try resolving the pressure in the center immediately by exchanging the pawns. This is not a good idea for either side. Black doesn’t want to take on c4 because White can play e4, creating a ‘perfect pawn center’.

White definitely doesn’t want to take on d5 because after …exd5 Black ends up with both bishops open and ready for action. Maintaining the central tension is very important for both sides in the Queen’s Gambit Declined lines.

Black brings out his king’s knight preventing White’s plan to advance the e-pawn to e4. White responds by pinning that knight to the queen, temporarily immobilizing the knight. White is ready to play e4 on the next move, so Black needs to come up with something new to prevent that.

4…Be7

Black unpins his f6 knight, developing the bishop and getting ready to castle. Technically, White could exchange his g5 bishop for the knight and play e4, but that will only give Black an edge in terms of quicker development and a bishop pair.

• Oh snap! We just realized you might actually be interested in some other 1.d4 options besides the Queen’s Gambit. Maybe you should take a look at the London System, an excellent opening weapon for White. Learn more here!

It is important to mention that apart from 4…Be7, Black has another tricky move at his disposal – 4…Nbd7. This sets up a Queen’s Gambit Declined trap that White needs to know.

At first glance, this move looks bad. Can’t White simply win a pawn with 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nxd5? Take a look at the PGN below to see why cxd5 isn’t a good idea!

Let’s go back to our look at the main line. Next, White plays 5.Nf3, and we reach the position in the diagram below:

White simply develops another minor piece. From this point on, there are various ways for both sides to proceed. Let’s take a look at a logical sample variation:

5…h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3

Black forces White to commit with his bishop on g5. There are variations where White simply chooses to retreat to h4, but those are more complex and that’s why we don’t recommend it as one of the best openings for beginners. Instead, White simply captures on f6.

How to Play the Queen’s Gambit Declined: Plans for White

After the bishop exchange, White plays e3. This is a very good move which sets up a strong c4-d4-e3 pawn chain, allowing a battery of light-squared bishop and queen on the b1-h7 diagonal.

White is getting ready to castle. His plans would include relocating the rook to c1 and playing e4 at the right moment, generating a strong central presence. This is a very good position for White to play because he has a space advantage and can get some activity going in the center with the e4 advance.

How to Play the Queen’s Gambit Declined: Plans for Black

Black is slightly behind in development. However, he has the advantage of the bishop pair and can castle straight away.

On the other hand, Black has a problematic bishop on c8, blocked in by its own e6-pawn. Black needs to figure out how to free it. One idea to play for with Black is with a well-timed c5-strike.

The Queen’s Gambit Exchange Variation With Nge2 and f3

Focusing on your opening strategy makes playing the opening easier than trying to memorizing variations. The system with f3, Nge2 with a later e4 advance is easy to play and remember.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5

Black usually plays either 5…Be7, breaking the pin on the d5-pawn defender, or 5…c6 to add support to the pawn.

Garry Kasparov was willing to play this variation in his World Championship Match against Nigel Short, who chose 5…Be7.

Kasparov, Garry – Short, Nigel D, 1-0, PCA-World Championship, 1993

In the next game, Grischuk played an amazing game against former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Even though he castled queenside Grischuk still continued with his opening strategy against 5…c6.

Grischuk, A. – Kramnik, Vladimir, 1-0, 2nd Norway Blitz 2014

World Champions Play the Exchange Variation

There is no doubt the sixth World Chess Champion Mikhail Botvinnik did a lot to make the Queen’s Gambit Exchange variation with f3 and e4 a dangerous weapon. It didn’t take long before other world champions started playing the variation in their games.

Here are three games to show you this strategy works in practice.

Mikhail Botvinnik – Paul Keres, 1952.12.09, 1-0, USSR Championship, Moscow URS

Tigran Petrosian – Hector Corral, 1954.04, 1-0, URU-URS, Montevideo URU

Max Euwe – Robert James Fischer, 1957.03.09, 1-0, New York, NY USA

Queen’s Gambit Declined Traps

Finally, it is important to take a look at some of the most frequently occurring opening traps from the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Here are the most important ones:

Queen’s Gambit Declined Opening Trap #1:

Queens’ Gambit Declined Opening Trap #2:

And last but not least: Queen’s Gambit Declined Opening Trap #3:

Queen’s Gambit Declined: Questions and Answers

1.) Is it better to accept or decline Queen’s Gambit?

Declining or accepting the gambit depends on your playing style. The Queen’s Gambit Accepted leads to more open positions where piece activity is extremely important.

2.) What happens if Queen’s Gambit is declined?

In the Queen’s Gambit Declined play is more positional and of a strategic nature. For example, in the Minority Attack, White’s strategy is to weaken the c6-pawn and then attack this weakness.

3.) How do you beat Queen’s Gambit Declined?

One of the most effective ways to beat the Queen’s Gambit Declined is the strategic plan introduced by World Chess Champion Mikhail Botvinnik. This is known as the Exchange Variation because White plays 4.cxd5.

After 4…exd5 5.Bg5 White plays e3, Bd3, Nge2, 0-0, and f3 intending the e4 advance.

Final Thoughts: Best Chess Openings for Beginners

The Queen’s Gambit Declined is one of the best openings for beginners to try, especially if they don’t want to play e4 openings for one reason or another.

It is playable for both colors and can either lead to a slow, positional, or sharp tactical game, depending on the choices made in the opening. It is always a good idea to go over grandmaster games played with the opening you are studying.

Above all else, it is key to keep in mind that the opening is only one aspect of the game.

To be successful in chess, you need to understand middlegame positions, have solid endgame technique, spot chess tactics, and a lot more.

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