Ruy Lopez Opening: Morphy, Keres & Chigorin Defenses
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Opening, arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Named after the 16-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, it is one of the oldest and most deeply studied openings in chess.
Typical Move-Order
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5, with dozens of sub-variations beginning on Black’s third move (…a6, …Nf6, …d6, etc.).
Strategic Ideas
- Pressure on the e-pawn: White’s bishop on b5 indirectly attacks e5 by pinning the knight on c6.
- Long-term central control: White often aims for d2–d4 under favorable circumstances.
- Piece activity vs. structural concessions: Many Ruy Lopez lines see Black accept the doubled c-pawns (e.g., the Exchange Variation) in exchange for the bishop pair.
Historical Significance
The Ruy Lopez has been employed by every world champion from Steinitz to Carlsen. It was the battleground for famous matches such as Fischer–Spassky (1972) and Kasparov–Karpov (1985–1990).
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn|e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|a6|Ba4|Nf6|O-O|Be7|Re1|b5|Bb3|d6|c3|O-O|h3|Nb8|d4| Nd7|Nbd2|Bf6|Nf1|Bb7|Ng3|Re8|a4|exd4|cxd4|Na5|Bc2|c5|Ra3|Nc6|d5|Nb4|Bb1|c4| Nh2|Nc5|Rf3|Ned3|Rxf6|Qxf6|Ng4|Qe7|Nf5|Qf6|Qg4|Qg6|Qd1]]White: Bobby Fischer – Black: Tigran Petrosian, Candidates 1971, illustrates a quiet but instructive Ruy López maneuvering battle.
Interesting Facts
- The opening’s depth is so vast that specialized monographs exist on single positions after move 10.
- The world’s longest correspondence game (Postal, 1989–1991, 236 moves) began with a Ruy Lopez.
Morphy Defense (in the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The Morphy Defense is the most popular reply to the Ruy Lopez and begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6. The immediate thrust …a6 challenges the bishop and aims at winning the bishop pair without damaging Black’s structure.
Plans for Both Sides
- White: Decide whether to exchange on c6 (Exchange Variation), retreat to a4 (main line), or sidestep theory with Bxc6 dxc6 4. O-O. Typical goals: pressure on e5, eventual d2–d4, and kingside initiative.
- Black: Gain space on the queenside, prepare …Nf6, …Be7, and often …b5–…Bb7. Black may later strike in the center with …d5.
Historical Background
Paul Morphy (1837-1884) popularized …a6 in his celebrated Paris opera-house game versus Duke Karl and Count Isouard (1858). Though the move was known earlier, Morphy demonstrated its dynamic potential so convincingly that the defense now bears his name.
Famous Example
[[Pgn|e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|a6|Ba4|Nf6|O-O|Be7|Re1|b5|Bb3|d6|c3|O-O|h3|Nb8|d4| Nbd7|c4|Bb7|Nc3|b4|Nd5|Nxd5|cxd5|Bf6|Be3|exd4|Nxd4|Nc5|Bc2|Re8|Qf3]]Kasparov vs. Karpov, World Championship 1986 (Game 16). Kasparov used the Morphy Defense as Black to neutralize Karpov’s 1. e4.
Interesting Nuggets
- The Morphy Defense is so dominant today that alternatives like 3…Nf6 (Berlin) and 3…d6 (Steinitz) are considered sidelines in terms of frequency.
- In modern databases more than 50% of Ruy Lopez games feature 3…a6.
Keres Defense (1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+)
Definition
The Keres Defense, named after Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres, appears after 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+. The early check resembles a hybrid between the French Defense (…e6) and the Nimzo-Indian (…Bb4), but Black postpones …Nf6, keeping flexible transpositional options.
Main Continuations
- 3. Bd2 (most common) 3…Bxd2+ 4. Qxd2, leading to an unbalanced queen-side structure.
- 3. Nc3 Nf6 can transpose to the Nimzo-Indian or Queen’s Indian depending on White’s next move.
- 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e4 d5 heads toward a French-like center with the bishop already outside the pawn chain.
Strategic Significance
Black’s immediate …Bb4+:
- Induces early commitments from White’s queenside pieces.
- Can double White’s c-pawns after …Bxc3 if profitable.
- Often deprives White of the classical c2–c4–Nc3 “ideal” Queen’s Gambit setup.
Historical & Practical Notes
The defense was championed by Paul Keres in the 1940s–1950s. Although never as fashionable as the Nimzo-Indian, it has been used occasionally by elite players seeking to avoid well-trodden theory—e.g., Vishy Anand employed it against Levon Aronian at Linares 2005.
Sample Game
[[Pgn|d4|e6|c4|Bb4+|Bd2|Bxd2+|Qxd2|Nf6|Nc3|d5|e3|O-O|Nf3|b6|cxd5|exd5|Bd3|c5| O-O|Nc6|Rac1|Bg4|dxc5|Bxf3|gxf3]]Aronian – Anand, Linares 2005. Black solved opening problems and generated queenside play.
Trivia
- Keres introduced the line against world champion Botvinnik in the 1948 World Championship tournament.
- Because …Bb4+ is played before …Nf6, Black can sometimes meet 3. e4 with 3…d5, achieving a French Winawer-type structure with the bad light-squared bishop already exchanged.
Chigorin Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6)
Definition
The Chigorin Defense to the Queen’s Gambit begins 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6. Named after Mikhail Chigorin, the great Russian master and challenger to Steinitz, it is an off-beat yet aggressive response that eschews the classical …e6 setup in favor of rapid piece play.
Key Ideas
- Piece activity over structure: Black is willing to accept an isolated d-pawn or doubled c-pawns in return for rapid development.
- Central tension: The knight on c6 pressures d4 and supports …e5 breaks.
- Minor-piece imbalance: After …dxc4 or Bxf3, Black may hand the bishop pair to White but obtain dynamic play.
Main Variations
- 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 (Main Line) e6 or Bf5.
- 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 (showing Black’s central intentions).
- 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. cxd5 Bxf3 5. gxf3 Qxd5 with pawn-structure imbalance.
Notable Games
[[Pgn|d4|d5|c4|Nc6|Nc3|Nf6|Nf3|Bg4|cxd5|Nxd5|e4|Nxc3|bxc3|e5|d5|Nb8|Rb1|Bd6| Be2|Nd7|O-O|O-O|Nd2|Bxe2|Qxe2|Rb8]]Ivanchuk – Morozevich, Olympiad 2002. A wild middlegame arose, showcasing the Chigorin’s fighting spirit.
Historical Footnotes
- Mikhail Chigorin used the defense to defeat Steinitz in several exhibition games in the late 19th century, though he lost the decisive World Championship match game (Havana 1889) after 2…Nc6.
- Alexander Morozevich revitalized the line in the 1990s and 2000s, employing it successfully against top-10 opponents.
Fun Facts
- Because 2…Nc6 blocks the c-pawn, endgame tablebases often show slightly inferior endings for Black, yet practical results are respectable thanks to middlegame complications.
- The opening is a favorite in blitz and rapid chess, where surprise value and dynamic chances compensate for positional looseness.