Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit

Ruy Lopez: Closed

Definition

The Closed Ruy Lopez is the most heavily analysed branch of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) that arises after the moves 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 (diagram after 9…h3, before Black’s 9th-move choice). Unlike the Open Ruy Lopez (where Black plays …d5 early), Black keeps the centre closed and prepares a slow manoeuvring battle.

Strategic Themes

White tries to build pressure on the e-file and eventually push d2-d4.
Black aims for queenside expansion with …c5 and …Bb7, or looks for a timely break …d6-d5 in favourable circumstances (e.g. the Zaitsev or Gajewski ideas).
Knight manoeuvres such as Nb1-d2-f1-g3 (for White) and Nb8-d7-f8-g6 (for Black) are typical, embodying the “Spanish torture” of long, patient manoeuvring.
The pawn structure often features the characteristic “Spanish” tension: White pawns on c3-d2-e4 versus Black pawns on c6-d6-e5.

Main Systems Inside the Closed Ruy Lopez

Chigorin Defense – 9…Na5, the subject of the next entry.
Breyer Variation – 9…Nb8, a favourite of World Champion Boris Spassky.
Zaitsev Variation – 9…Bb7 followed by …Re8 and …Bf8, famously used by Karpov in many title defences.
Smyslov (Flohr–Smyslov) Variation – 9…h6 10. d4 Re8.
Gajewski Gambit – 9…Na5 10. Bc2 d5!? (covered below).

Historical Significance

The Closed Ruy Lopez has been the battleground for numerous World Championship matches, from the early Lasker–Steinitz encounters (1894) to the epic Karpov–Kasparov series (1984–1990) and even Carlsen–Karjakin (2016). Its reputation for depth and richness is such that opening monographs often exceed 500 pages yet remain incomplete.

Illustrative Game

[[Pgn|Kasparov|Anand|Linares|1993| 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 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 h6 12.Bc2 Bf8 13.a3 exd4 14.cxd4 Na5 15.b3 c5 16.d5 c4 17.b4 Nb3 18.Nxb3 cxb3 19.Bb2 Nd7 20.Bxb3 Nb6 21.Nd4 Nc4 22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Bc3 Qd7 24.Nf5 Bxd5 25.Nxh6+ gxh6 26.Qxd5 Qe6 27.Qd2 Rab8 28.Re3 Bg7 29.Rae1 Kh7 30.Rf3 Rb5 31.Rf4 Be5 32.Rf5 d5 33.Rxe5 Qxe5 34.Bxe5 Rxe5 35.exd5 Rexd5 36.Qf4 ½-½]]

The game shows both players re-routing pieces, probing pawn breaks and ultimately agreeing to a draw only after massive simplifications—a typical Closed Ruy Lopez narrative.

Interesting Facts

The term “Spanish torture” was popularised by Tartakower to describe how White slowly squeezes Black in the Closed Spanish.
Despite a century of analysis, engines still find fresh nuances in sideline moves such as 9…h6 or 9…Bb7.

Chigorin Defense (Ruy Lopez — 9…Na5)

Definition

Named after the Russian pioneer Mikhail Chigorin, the Chigorin Defense occurs in the Closed Ruy Lopez after: 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. Black immediately harasses the bishop on b3 to reduce White’s pressure on the e-file and looks to place the knight on c4 or b7.

Typical Plans

Black:
- Relocate the queen’s knight: Na5-c4 or Na5-b7-c5.
- Prepare the central break …d6-d5 (sometimes supported by …Re8, …Bf8, or even the gambit …d5!? as in the Gajewski).
- Maintain the strong e5-pawn and aim for piece activity rather than an immediate pawn break.
White:
- Retreat the bishop to c2 (10. Bc2) keeping the a4–e8 diagonal alive.
- Maneuver Nbd2-f1-g3 and push d2-d4 at the right moment.
- Exploit the temporary awkwardness of Black’s Na5.

Key Sub-Variations

Traditional Main Line – 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Nbd2 Nc6, leading to rich, strategic battles.
Smyslov–Rubinstein System – 10. Bc2 Bb7 11. d4 Re8 with slow manoeuvring.
Gajewski Gambit – 10. Bc2 d5!? (see next section).

Historical & Practical Notes

Chigorin himself employed the line vs. Tarrasch (Vienna 1898), but it gained modern prominence through the games of Vasily Smyslov, Anatoly Karpov, and more recently Fabiano Caruana. It is ECO code C99.

Model Game

[[Pgn|Karpov|Spassky|Candidates Final|Leningrad 1974| 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 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bf6 14.Nf1 exd4 15.Nxd4 Re8 16.Ne3 Bb7 17.Ndf5 Nc4 18.Ng4 Bxb2 19.Bxb2 Nxb2 20.Qd4 ½-½]]

The game illustrates the flexible structures and piece manoeuvring typical of the Chigorin Defense.

Trivia

Though sharing the same name, the Chigorin Defense to the Queen’s Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6) is an entirely different opening.
Engines originally disliked 9…Na5 because it “puts a knight on the rim,” but deeper calculations reveal its long-term strategic venom.

Gajewski Gambit (Ruy Lopez, Chigorin Defense)

Definition

The Gajewski Gambit is an ambitious pawn sacrifice introduced in 2007 by Polish GM Michał Gajewski. It arises after 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 10. Bc2 d5!? sacrificing a central pawn to seize the initiative.

Idea Behind the Gambit

Black opens lines for rapid piece activity and targets the bishop on c2 and the king on g1.
The immediate …d5 hits e4 twice (…dxe4 tactics) and discourages White’s usual plan of d2-d4.
If White accepts the pawn (11. exd5), Black often gains powerful play after 11…Bb7 and 12…Re8.

Critical Continuations

11. exd5 – Main line. Black regains the pawn or builds strong compensation: 11…Bb7 12. d3 Nxd5 13. Nxe5 Bd6! with attacking chances.
11. d3 – Solid. White declines the pawn but cedes the centre; play continues 11…dxe4 12. dxe4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Bb7.
11. Nxe5 – A tactical try refuted by 11…dxe4 12. d4 Bb7!, when Black’s bishops cut across the board.

Sample Game

[[Pgn|Caruana|Dominguez Pérez|Wijk aan Zee|2014| 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 10.Bc2 d5 11.exd5 e4 12.Ng5 Nxd5 13.Nxe4 f5 14.Ng3 Bd6 15.d4 Qh4 16.Qf3 c6 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.Ndf1 Rae8 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Bd2 Nc4 21.Bxf5 Bxf5 22.Nxf5 Qe4 23.Qxe4 Rxe4 24.b3 Nxd2 25.Nxd6 Re6 26.Nxd2 Rxd6 27.Ne4 Rg6 28.g3 Nf4 29.h4 Nd5 30.c4 fxe4 0-1]]

Dominguez demonstrates how active piece play and pressure on the g-file can outweigh the pawn deficit.

Practical & Historical Points

First employed in top-level play by Radek Wojtaszek vs. Boris Gelfand, Biel 2007.
Engines initially assessed the gambit as dubious; modern neural-net engines give near-equality, which has increased its popularity in rapid and classical events.
ECO code: C99 (nested inside the Chigorin Defense).

Anecdote

In the Moscow Tal Memorial 2008, Kramnik prepared the Gajewski as a surprise against Anand but switched openings at the last moment—rumour has it because Anand’s seconds were seen analysing that very line the night before!