Ruy Lopez Opening Morphy Defense Open Bernstein Variation
Ruy Lopez Opening (a.k.a. the Spanish Opening)
Definition
The Ruy Lopez arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. White’s third-move bishop attack on the knight that defends e5 defines the opening. It is named after 16-century Spanish priest and chess author Ruy López de Segura, who analysed it in his 1561 treatise “Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez.”
Usage in Practical Play
- Played at every level, from scholastic tournaments to World-Championship matches.
- Favoured by positional players (e.g., Karpov, Carlsen) but also beloved by attackers (e.g., Tal, Kasparov) because of its rich strategic and tactical possibilities.
- Serves as a “mother opening”: branches such as the Exchange Variation, Berlin Defence, and Marshall Gambit begin from the Ruy Lopez.
Strategic Significance
The Spanish bishop pressures the e5-pawn and threatens to damage Black’s pawn structure after Bxc6. White’s long-term goals include:
- Dominating the centre with d2–d4.
- Maintaining a healthy pawn structure for a favourable endgame.
- Building queenside pressure (the minority attack c2–c4–c5 in closed lines).
Black, meanwhile, chooses between solidity (Berlin), dynamic counterplay (Marshall), or flexible piece play (Closed Ruy). The opening is renowned for producing balanced positions rich in manoeuvring.
Illustrative Example
Kasparov – Karpov, World Championship (Game 16), Moscow 1985:
The game evolved into a classic Closed Ruy manoeuvring battle. Kasparov’s queenside space and pressure on e5 eventually netted him a crucial victory.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In the 1997 rematch against Deep Blue, Garry Kasparov surprisingly opened with 1. e4 and a Ruy Lopez in Game 3, hoping to steer the computer into complex strategic waters.
- The longest world-championship streak of any single opening belongs to the Ruy Lopez: every decisive game in the 1966 Petrosian – Spassky match began with it.
- The opening’s nickname, “The Spanish,” survives even in non-English languages (e.g., “Española” in Spanish, “Spanjolac” in Serbian).
Morphy Defense
Definition
The Morphy Defense is Black’s most popular reply to 3. Bb5 in the Ruy Lopez: 3…a6. Named after the 19-century American prodigy Paul Morphy, the move immediately questions the b5-bishop and prepares …b5 to gain space and unpin the knight.
Typical Move Order
After 4. Ba4, Black almost always continues 4…Nf6, entering the main lines of the Morphy Defense.
Strategic Themes
- Immediate Tension: The bishop must decide between retreat (4.Ba4) or exchange (4.Bxc6).
- Flexibility: Black keeps options open—…d6 for the Closed Ruy, …f5 for the Schliemann idea, or …b5 & …Bb7 for active piece play.
- Queenside Expansion: …a6 and …b5 yield steady space on the queenside while preserving central pawn symmetry.
Historical & Theoretical Importance
Paul Morphy used 3…a6 in his 1858 exhibition against Duke Karl and Count Isouard (the famous “Opera Game”), though that brilliancy also included an early …d6. Since then, virtually every world champion has relied on the Morphy Defense to meet 1. e4.
Canonical Example
Fischer – Spassky, World Championship Game 6, Reykjavík 1972 (Closed Ruy originating from the Morphy Defense):
Fischer’s 13.Nd5! led to a model strategic squeeze and one of the greatest positional victories of the match.
Fun Trivia
- Grandmaster databases record more games with the Morphy Defense than with all other Ruy Lopez third-move options combined.
- In blitz chess, many players use 3…a6 not only for theory but also to pre-move …b5!
Open Bernstein Variation (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense, Open System)
Definition & Move Sequence
The Open Bernstein Variation is a branch of the Open Ruy Lopez reached after:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bb5 a6
- Ba4 Nf6
- O-O Nxe4
- d4 b5
- Bb3 d5
- dxe5 Be6 (the hallmark Bernstein move)
The move 8…Be6, championed by Russian-French master Ossip Bernstein, protects the knight on c6, supports the d5-pawn, and opens lines for queenside development.
Strategic Ideas
- Piece Activity Over Pawn Structure: Black accepts an isolated e-pawn after 9.c3 Be7 10.Nbd2 but gains rapid minor-piece development and central tension.
- Central Counterplay: The half-open f-file and opportunities for …f6 or …Qd7 target White’s e5 pawn.
- Imbalance: White enjoys the bishop pair and a spatial edge; Black seeks dynamic equality via tactics.
Practical Example
Aronian – Caruana, Wijk aan Zee 2014:
The game illustrates how quickly both sides’ pieces spring to life, producing razor-sharp play even from an apparently symmetrical pawn structure.
Historical Footnote
Ossip Bernstein debuted 8…Be6 in the early 1900s. Although modern engines view the line as objectively equal, it remains a potent surprise weapon because the ensuing positions are less charted than mainstream Open-Ruy continuations like 8…Na5.
Tips for the Aspiring Player
- Do not fear exchanges: Black often liquidates into a minor-piece endgame where the queenside majority (a- & b-pawns) can roll.
- White should consider 9.c3! to preserve the d2-knight route to d4 and retain the e-pawn.
- Keep a close eye on tactical motifs such as …Nxf2, …Bxf2+, and the fork on d3.
Curiosity
According to the MegaBase statistics [[Chart|Rating|Classical|2000-2023]], the Bernstein Variation scores 49 % for White and 51 % for Black—one of the rare Ruy Lopez lines where Black slightly outperforms!