Ruy Lopez Opening Jaenisch Dyckhoff Tartakower Variation
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez (also called the Spanish Opening) is one of the oldest and most respected chess openings, beginning with the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. It is named after the 16-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who analysed it in his 1561 book, “Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del axedrez.”
How it is used in play
White’s 3.Bb5 immediately attacks the knight that defends the central pawn on e5, laying long-term pressure on Black’s centre and queenside structure. The opening has dozens of branches—Closed, Open, Exchange, Berlin, etc.—making it an extremely flexible weapon for 1.e4 players and a theoretical proving ground for 1…e5 defenders.
Strategic significance
- Long-term clamp on the centre: White strives for d2–d4 under favourable circumstances.
- Piece activity over pawn grabs: many lines feature quiet manoeuvres such as Re1–Nf1–g3–Ng3–f5.
- Queenside pawn structure: After …a6 Ba4 Nf6 O-O Black often has to decide between the main-line …b5 and the solid Berlin …Nxe4 ideas.
Illustrative example
Fischer – Spassky, World Championship (6th game), Reykjavik 1972 followed the Classical Closed Spanish. Fischer’s remarkable 29.Bxh7+! stunned the chess world and showed the attacking potential that can arise from the seemingly quiet manoeuvres of the Ruy Lopez.
Interesting facts
- The Ruy Lopez has appeared in more World-Championship games than any other opening.
- Both computers and humans continuously discover new subtleties; the theoretical debate in the Berlin Defence (3…Nf6) exploded only after the year 2000.
- Although Ruy López recommended the line, he actually considered 3.Bc4 (the Italian Game) even stronger—a view modern theory has reversed.
Jaenisch Gambit (aka Schliemann Defence) in the Ruy Lopez
Definition
The Jaenisch Gambit begins after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5!?. Black immediately challenges the centre and sacrifices structural soundness for rapid piece play. It is named for the 19-century Russian theoretician Carl Jaenisch, although later championed by Adolf Schliemann—hence the dual name “Schliemann Defence.”
Typical plans
- Black: seize the initiative by advancing …f5–f4, open the f-file, and generate quick kingside pressure before White can consolidate.
- White: accept or decline the gambit (4.exf5 or 4.Nc3, 4.d3, 4.Bxc6), aiming either to exploit Black’s weakened centre or to return material for positional gains.
Common move orders
- 4.exf5 e4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nd4 and White tries to hold the extra pawn.
- 4.Nc3!? (the most popular modern try) 4…fxe4 5.Nxe4 (entering the Dyckhoff family of variations).
- 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.O-O and White keeps a solid centre.
Historical & practical importance
The Jaenisch Gambit has never been a mainstream top-level defence, but it is a favourite surprise weapon—even Garry Kasparov tried it against Veselin Topalov (Wijk aan Zee 1999) to avoid Carlsbad-type Spanish battles.
Sample game
Trivia
- Carl Jaenisch originally analysed the gambit to prove it unsound, yet it wound up bearing his name!
- Engines rate the line as roughly equal with best play—a testament to its practical sting even in the computer age.
Dyckhoff Variation (of the Jaenisch Gambit)
Definition
The Dyckhoff Variation arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4. Named after the German analyst Julius Dyckhoff (mid-19 th century), it is considered one of the soundest antidotes for White against the Jaenisch. By developing quickly and immediately recapturing on e4, White avoids structural weaknesses while retaining a lead in development.
Strategic ideas
- White will often castle queenside (after Qe2 & O-O-O) and launch a pawn storm with f3 g4 h4, exploiting Black’s loosened kingside.
- Black strives for …d5 to free the position and equalise, or for rapid piece activity (…Nf6, …d6, …Be7, …O-O).
Key tabiya
In the diagram position (after 5.Nxe4) pieces stand:
- White: King e1, Queen d1, Rooks a1/h1, Knights f3/e4, Bishop b5, pawns a2 b2 c2 d2 e4 f2 g2 h2.
- Black: King e8, Queen d8, Rooks a8/h8, Knights g8/c6, Bishop f8, Bishop c8, pawns a7 b7 c7 d7 e5 f5 g7 h7.
Notable continuation
5…d5 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Nxc6 Qg5 8.Qe2 Nf6 (frequently labelled the Tartakower sub-variation—see next section). The resulting positions are razor-sharp but roughly balanced.
Interesting nugget
Although Dyckhoff’s original analyses were published in obscure German periodicals, modern grandmasters such as Teimour Radjabov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave have revived his line to sidestep deep computer-checked Jaenisch theory.
Tartakower Variation (in the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
There are several “Tartakower Variations” in chess openings, but within the Ruy Lopez two are recognised:
- Open Spanish, Tartakower: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qe2.
- Jaenisch, Tartakower Sub-line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5!—often reached via the Dyckhoff path.
Both bear the name of the Polish-French grandmaster Savielly Tartakower, famed for his witty aphorisms (“The winner of the game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake”) and his creative opening ideas.
Main ideas (Open Spanish version)
- Black voluntarily accepts an isolated e-pawn and a shattered pawn mass on c6/c7, betting on active piece play.
- White seeks an endgame where the weak pawns become targets, often after queens are exchanged on d8 or e2.
Main ideas (Jaenisch sub-line)
- The counter-strike …d5 questionably exposes Black’s centre but also frees the dark-squared bishop and contests e4.
- White must decide between the principled 6.Ng3 (maintaining central tension) or 6.Nc3 (returning the pawn for development).
Historical example
Tartakower – Capablanca, New York 1924 featured the Open Spanish Tartakower line. The future world champion exploited a tiny endgame advantage and converted after 64 moves, illustrating how resilient Black’s structure can be.
Why it matters today
- Still used as a surprise weapon; e.g., Magnus Carlsen employed the Open Spanish Tartakower versus Vishy Anand (Gjøvik 2008).
- Engines evaluate the positions as dynamically equal, so strong players occasionally choose it to sidestep heavier-analysed branches like the Berlin.
Did you know?
Tartakower often published his novelties in chess columns before playing them in tournaments, claiming “the more my opponent knows, the stronger I must become.”