Ruy Lopez Opening Morphy Defense Keres Variation
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez (also called the Spanish Opening) is one of the oldest and most respected chess openings. It begins with the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. White immediately pressures the knight on c6, indirectly targeting the e5-pawn, and prepares rapid development and kingside castling.
Typical Move Order
Standard main-line sequence:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bb5
After 3…a6 (Morphy Defense) the opening branches into many systems such as the Exchange, Closed, Open, Berlin, and others.
Strategic Themes
- Fight for the center: White’s pressure on e5 and later d4 thrusts aim to dominate central squares.
- Bishop pair vs. structure: Black often concedes the bishop pair by playing …a6 and …b5, so structural solidity becomes critical.
- Pawn majorities: Queenside (Black) vs. kingside (White) pawn majorities frequently shape endgames.
Historical Significance
Named after 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy (Rodrigo) López de Segura, who analyzed it in his 1561 book. It has remained a mainstay at every level—from the romantic 19th-century era (Morphy, Steinitz) to modern world-championship play (Kasparov, Carlsen).
Illustrative Example
The position after 9.h3 is one of the main tabiyas; both sides have completed development and the strategic battle begins.
Interesting Facts
- More than 15 % of all games in top-level databases begin with the Ruy Lopez.
- Its theory exceeds 1,800 ECO pages (codes C60–C99), making it one of the most deeply studied openings.
- Magnus Carlsen used it in his very first classical world-championship game (vs. Anand, 2013).
Morphy Defense (in the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The Morphy Defense arises after 3…a6 in the Ruy Lopez: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6. Black immediately asks the bishop on b5 to decide its future, gaining queenside space and preparing …b5.
Purpose & Usage
- Prevents Bb5-xc6 doubling Black’s c-pawns under favorable circumstances.
- Gains space on the queenside for …b5 and often …Bb7.
- Sets up a flexible pawn structure that can morph into Closed, Open, or Modern Archangelsk systems.
Main Continuations
- 4. Ba4 – keeping the pin (vast majority of high-level games).
- 4. Bxc6 – Exchange Variation, trading bishop for knight.
Strategic Significance
Named after Paul Morphy, the 19th-century American genius who popularized it as a dynamic answer to the Ruy. It signals Black’s willingness to accept structural weaknesses (the a6 pawn can be a target) in exchange for piece activity and clarity of plan.
Famous Games
- Morphy – Anderssen, Paris 1858: Morphy demonstrated the latent power of …a6 followed by rapid development and a kingside attack.
- Kasparov – Karpov, WCh 1990 ( game 20 ): Karpov defended the Morphy structure and drew a critical endgame.
Example Mini-Tabiya
After 5…Be7 Black is ready to castle and has avoided the potentially annoying Bb5-xc6 doubling.
Did You Know?
- The Morphy Defense is so ubiquitous that many club players call almost any 3…a6 line simply “the Ruy Lopez.”
- 3…a6 is the single most-played third move for Black against 3.Bb5 in modern databases, ahead of both 3…Nf6 (Berlin) and 3…d6 (Steinitz).
Keres Variation (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense)
Definition
The Keres Variation is a specific line of the Closed Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense, characterized by …Na5 at an early moment: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5.
Strategic Ideas
- Chasing the bishop: …Na5 aims to trade or neutralize White’s strong light-squared bishop on b3, lessening pressure on e6/e7 squares.
- Queenside outpost: The knight on a5 eyes c4 and b3, and frees the c-pawn for …c5 breaks.
- Flexibility: Black often combines …c5 with …Be6 or …Bb7, rearranging pieces for central counterplay.
Origins & Name
Grandmaster Paul Keres (Estonia), noted for his deep opening research, employed the line in the late 1940s–1950s. His 1952 game against Smyslov helped cement the variation’s theoretical status.
Typical Continuations After 9…Na5
- 10. Bc2 c5 – immediate central tension.
- 10. d4 c5 11. Nbd2 – keeping the center closed until preparation is complete.
Model Game
Smyslov – Keres, Zürich Candidates 1953 (short PGN excerpt):
Keres equalized comfortably and later won through queenside play—an archetypal demonstration of the variation.
Practical Tips for Both Sides
- For White: Keep the bishop pair alive if possible; consider Bc2-d3 regrouping and timely d4-d5 pawn breaks.
- For Black: Avoid drifting—after securing the bishop trade, strike in the center with …c5 and sometimes …d5.
Trivia
- The move 9…Na5 was once thought slightly dubious; modern engines now evaluate the position as roughly equal, revitalizing interest among grandmasters.
- Paul Keres is often called “the greatest player never to become world champion”; this line is one of several that bear his name (others appear in the Sicilian and the Nimzo-Indian).