Ruy Lopez Opening, Morphy Defense, Alapin Gambit
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening, arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Named for the 16-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, it is one of the oldest and most deeply analysed chess openings.
How it is used in chess
White’s third-move bishop targets the c6-knight, which defends the e5-pawn, creating long-term pressure on the black centre. Typical plans include:
- Castling quickly (O-O) and preparing the central break d2–d4.
- Maintaining the bishop on b5 to generate structural pressure, or retreating to a4/c2 after …a6.
- Using the move c2–c3 to support d2–d4 and create the famous “Spanish” pawn centre.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The Ruy Lopez is considered the classical test of 1…e5. Its theory has grown for more than 150 years, producing branches such as the Morphy, Berlin, Marshall, and Breyer defences. World champions from Steinitz to Carlsen have relied on it with both colours.
Example
After 9…Nb8 Black prepares …c5 and …Bb7; meanwhile White places pawns on c3 & d4, a very typical Spanish structure.
Interesting Facts
- The first known printed analysis of the opening appeared in López’s 1561 treatise “Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez”.
- Garry Kasparov’s favourite first move with White was 1. e4, and most of his 1…e5 games featured the Ruy Lopez.
- The Ruy Lopez is so popular at top level that databases contain over 300,000 master games beginning with 3. Bb5.
Morphy Defense
Definition
The Morphy Defense is Black’s most common answer to the Ruy Lopez: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6. By questioning the bishop at once, Black avoids early structural concessions and prepares …Nf6 and …Be7.
Usage and Typical Plans
- 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 enters the Closed Ruy Lopez, famous for its rich manoeuvring battles.
- 4. Bxc6 dxc6 leads to the Exchange variation, giving Black doubled c-pawns but the bishop pair.
- 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. a4!? introduces the modern main lines.
Historical Notes
The move 3…a6 was played by Paul Morphy in his legendary 1858 match against Adolf Anderssen and quickly became the gold standard. Almost every world champion has defended 1. e4 e5 with the Morphy Defense at some point.
Illustrative Game
Anderssen – Morphy, Paris 1858 (blindfold game):
The game shows Morphy’s dynamic pawn breaks …c6–c5 and …d6–d5, still topical today.
Trivia
- The iconic diagram after 3…a6 appears on the cover of many opening manuals as a synonym for “classical chess”.
- In 2021, over 60 % of Super-GM Ruy Lopez games featured 3…a6.
Exchange (material concept)
Definition
In chess, the exchange refers to the value difference between a rook (≈5 pawns) and a minor piece—bishop or knight (≈3 pawns). Gaining a rook for a minor piece is called “winning the exchange”, while giving up a rook for a minor piece on purpose is an exchange sacrifice.
How it is used
- Counting material: “White is up the exchange” means White has a rook vs. a minor piece.
- Strategic tool: Players may sacrifice the exchange to obtain
- dark-square domination (e.g., Botvinnik–Capablanca, AVRO 1938),
- a passed pawn (e.g., Fischer–Petrosian, Candidates 1971), or
- king attack (e.g., Tal’s many games).
Examples
In many King’s Indian lines (above, after 24.Nc7), Black will often sacrifice the exchange with …Rxa4 to open the a-file versus White’s king.
Interesting Anecdotes
- Mikhail Tal joked that he “did not believe in numbers” after giving up two exchanges against Gligorić (Bled 1961) and still winning.
- Computer engines, once materialistic, now frequently sacrifice the exchange, influencing human play.
Alapin Variation (“Alapin”)
Definition
The name “Alapin” most commonly denotes the Alapin Variation of the Sicilian Defence: 1. e4 c5 2. c3. It is named after Russian theoretician Semyon Alapin (1856-1923).
Purpose & Typical Ideas
- By playing 2. c3, White prepares d2–d4, aiming for a strong pawn centre while avoiding the labyrinth of Open Sicilian theory.
- The move blunts Black’s c-file pressure and often restricts the knight on c6.
- Plans include Nd2-f3, Be2-g4, and a later c3-c4 break.
Main Defensive Set-ups for Black
- 2…d5 – the most popular; after 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 Black regains the pawn and develops smoothly.
- 2…Nf6 – hitting e4; play might continue 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4.
- 2…e6 & 2…g6 – transposing to French- or Dragon-like structures.
Illustrative Miniature
Carlsen – Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2012:
White’s quick central expansion yielded a solid advantage that the future World Champion duly converted.
Fun Facts
- The Alapin has been a pet line of super-GMs Daniil Dubov and Alireza Firouzja, producing many sharp modern ideas.
- In scholastic chess the variation is beloved because it cuts out a large amount of Najdorf and Dragon theory.
Gambit
Definition
A gambit is an opening line in which one side, most often White, deliberately sacrifices material (usually a pawn) to obtain time, space, or attacking chances. The term comes from the Italian gambetto, “to trip”.
How Gambits are used
- Initiative: the side giving material hopes to seize the momentum and dictate play.
- Development lead: rapid piece activity can overwhelm an unprepared opponent.
- Psychology: gambits can knock opponents out of their comfort zone.
Famous Gambits
- King’s Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. f4
- Queen’s Gambit: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 (a “strategic” gambit; the pawn is usually recovered)
- Evans Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4
- Benko Gambit: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
- Alapin Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 (White often sacrifices a pawn after 3…d5 4. exd5 Qxd5)
Anecdotes
- “Sound” vs. “Unsound”: In the 19th century almost every romantic opening was called a gambit, but modern engines have refuted many of them—yet they remain deadly in blitz!
- During Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, Kasparov declined Topalov’s Benko Gambit—and commentators joked that declining was the true sacrifice because spectators were deprived of fireworks.