Ruy Lopez Nürnberg Variation
Ruy Lopez Opening – Nürnberg (Nurnberg) Variation
Definition
The Nürnberg (often anglicised as “Nurnberg”) Variation is a branch of the Closed Ruy Lopez that starts from the diagram position reached after the moves
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bb5 a6
- Ba4 Nf6
- O-O Be7
- Re1 b5
- Bb3 d6
- c3 O-O
- h3 Na5
- Bc2 c5
- d4 Nd7
Typical Move Order (move-order)
The most common sequence is shown in the PGN pane below; other transpositions are possible, especially if White delays 9.h3 or plays 9.d4 directly.
Strategic Ideas
- Black’s knight manoeuvre: Na5–c6–b8–d7–f8–g6 (or f6) allows flexible kingside defence and counter-play on the dark squares.
- Pressure on e4: After …c5 and …Nc6, Black often piles up on the e4-pawn, encouraging White to clarify the centre with d4.
- Queenside space vs. central tension: White’s bishop pair and central pawns grant long-term chances, while Black gains immediate queenside space (…b5 …c5) and a sturdy Scheveningen-flavoured pawn structure (d6/e5).
- Typical pawn breaks: White aims for d4–d5 or a later f4; Black watches for …exd4 followed by …Bf6 or …Bb7, or even the thematic …f5 break after the knight comes to g6.
How It Is Used in Practice
The Nürnberg Variation appeals to players who like solid but unbalanced positions. Because the critical positions arise by move 11, both sides can dive straight into preparation without fearing a mass of early sidelines.
- Repertoire choice for Black: It is an alternative to the more theoretical Chigorin (…Na5 then …c5 without …Nd7) or Breyer (…Nb8) systems, sharing ideas with both while sidestepping some razor-sharp d4 fissures.
- Weapons for White: Modern grandmasters frequently answer 11.d4 with 11…cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Nc3, maintaining the tension; another try is 11.d5, grabbing space and restricting Black’s minor pieces.
Historical Significance
Though overshadowed today by the Chigorin and Marshall Variations, the Nürnberg line played a formative role in the evolution of Closed Ruy Lopez theory:
- Early 20th-century battleground: At Nürnberg 1896, Schlechter and Tarrasch explored the …Na5/…c5 plan against Lasker and others, influencing textbooks for decades.
- Foundation for Chigorin: Mikhail Chigorin refined the concept by skipping …Nd7, leading directly to the modern Chigorin Variation (…Na5 …c5 …Nc6).
- Precursor to the Breyer: The rerouting idea eventually inspired Gyula Breyer’s famous …Nb8 retreat, showing how
backwards
knight manoeuvres can revitalise cramped defences.
Illustrative Game
S. Tarrasch – C. Schlechter, Nürnberg 1896
Opening: Ruy Lopez, Nürnberg Variation
Tarrasch tries a direct d4–d5 push, but Schlechter’s restrained set-up eventually nets the d-pawn and dark-square pressure. The game demonstrates both Black’s flexibility and the long manoeuvring nature typical of the variation.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The variation’s German name “Nürnberger Zug” (“Nürnberg move”) originally referred only to the 9…Na5 retreat; later analysts broadened it to the full 9…Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7 sequence.
- Because the knight makes two retreating moves (Na5 and Nd7) in quick succession, some 19th-century commentators derided the line as
playing hide-and-seek
; modern engines, however, show the manoeuvre is fully sound. - GM Peter Leko revived the line in the early 2000s as a drawing weapon against the super-prepared Kramnik and Anand, proving its resilience even at the 2700+ level.
- If White castles queenside (rare but possible with Bd3 & Nbd2), the position can transpose into a Philidor-esque structure with opposite-side attacks—an unexpected twist arising from such a classical opening.
Summary
The Ruy Lopez Nürnberg Variation is a time-tested yet under-explored option for Black that blends rock-solid central control with subtle piece manoeuvring. Its historic pedigree, strategic richness, and relative rarity make it an attractive choice for players who enjoy slow-burn positional battles peppered with tactical chances.