Ruy Lopez: Open, Breslau Variation

Definition

The Breslau Variation is a branch of the Open Ruy Lopez that arises after Black captures the e4-pawn and opens the centre with …d5 and …d4. A typical move-order is:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nbd2 Nc5 12. Bc2 d4 (ECO C80).

Strategic Essence

Open Centre: …d5 and …d4 forcefully break in the middle, before White can consolidate the extra pawn.
Activity Over Material: Black accepts long-term weaknesses (isolated e-pawn, weakened dark squares) in return for rapid piece play.
Key Square c3: Black’s pawn advance …d4 undermines the c3 point, often fixing White’s structure and freeing Black’s pieces.
White’s Task: Return material at the right moment, neutralise the initiative, then exploit queenside targets such as the b5-pawn.

Historical Notes

• Named after the city of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland), home town of Adolf Anderssen.
• First practical example: Tarrasch – von Gottschall, Breslau 1889.
• Never a mainstream choice, it survives as an enterprising sideline that avoids the theory-heavy Marshall and Dilworth lines.

Main Line Continuations After 12…d4

13. cxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 – Black regains the pawn with active pieces.
13. Nb3 dxc3 14. Qe2 (or 14. Nxc5 cxb2) – sharp pawn races where accurate calculation is essential.

Illustrative Game

The following miniature (modelled on Nikolić – Plachetka, Sarajevo 1983) highlights Black’s thematic pressure.

Typical Plans & Motifs

Black
- Pressure down the e-file: …Re8, queen to d7/f6.
- Pawn roller …d4-c5-c4 to gain space and cramp White.
- Knight manoeuvres via e7-g6 hitting f4/h4 squares.
White
- Timely c3-cxd4 break to liquidate Black’s central pawn.
- Regroup Bc2, Nf1–g3 and expand with a4 against the b5-chain.
- Exchange-sacrifice on e6 (Rxe6) in some lines to exploit dark-square weaknesses.

Pros & Cons

Black
- + Immediate initiative and practical chances.
- + Less well-known, so effective as a surprise weapon.
- − Isolated e-pawn and long-term dark-square holes.
White
- + Extra central pawn (at least temporarily) and safer king.
- + Clear queenside target (the b5-pawn).
- − Must navigate early tactical complications accurately.

Interesting Facts

• Engines rate the line roughly equal, so with best play neither side is clearly better.
• In correspondence chess the Breslau scores respectably for Black, confirming its theoretical soundness.
• The variation is occasionally adopted by grandmasters seeking to sidestep the deeply analysed Marshall Attack while retaining active play.