Ruy Lopez Open Variation - Motzko Attack

Ruy Lopez: Open Variation

Definition

The Open Ruy Lopez is a dynamic branch of the Ruy Lopez that arises after the moves:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4

By capturing the e4–pawn immediately with 5…Nxe4, Black opens the position and steers the game away from the more strategic “Closed” systems that start with 5…Be7. Because the centre becomes fluid at once, both sides must calculate accurately from an early stage.

Typical Move-Order

The main tabiya is reached after:

6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6   (diagram after 8…Be6)

From here White chooses between several ninth-move possibilities:

• 9. c3 (Classical Main Line)
• 9. a4 (Leonhardt Variation)
• 9. Nbd2 (Keres Variation)
• 9. Qe2 (Motzko Attack – see below)

Strategic Themes

• Activity over structure: Black accepts a slightly loosened queenside structure in return for piece play and central counter-pressure.
• Pawn majority imbalance: After the usual …b5–b4 push, Black may obtain a queenside majority, while White hopes to prove that the e-pawn plus kingside space carries more weight.
• Minor-piece battles: Exchanges on e4, c3, and d4 often leave each side with bishop-pair versus knight-pair imbalances; understanding which minor pieces to keep is critical.
• Tactical shots on f7/f2: Both sides must watch out for discovered attacks on the f-files, especially after White plays Nc3 or Black plays …Bc5.

Historical Significance

• Steinitz and Lasker employed the Open Ruy as early as the 19th century.
• The variation was revitalised in the 1960s–70s by Keres, Petrosian, and later Karpov, who used it as a main weapon in his 1981 World Championship match against Korchnoi.
• In modern times, aggressive grandmasters such as Alexei Shirov, Teimour Radjabov, and Fabiano Caruana have included it in their repertoires, proving its continued theoretical vitality.

Illustrative Example

A classic demonstration of Black’s counter-play is Petrosian – Keres, USSR Ch 1952:

Black’s energetic piece placement neutralised White’s centre, eventually yielding an endgame advantage.

Interesting Facts

• Engines evaluate the starting position of the Open Ruy as roughly equal, yet practical results at master level still favour White by a small margin.
• Because the variation simplifies the central pawn tension early, it was a favourite of Tigran Petrosian, who enjoyed manoeuvring positions where concrete calculation had already solved the most acute tactical problems.
• Modern players sometimes reach Open-Ruy structures via the Delayed Exchange 5…Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.d4 exd4, showing how openings can transpose in unexpected ways.

Motzko Attack in the Open Ruy Lopez

Definition

The Motzko Attack is a sharp sub-variation of the Open Ruy Lopez that begins with the queen move 9. Qe2 in the main line:

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. Qe2!

The move protects the e5-pawn, eyes the a2–g8 diagonal, and prepares Rd1 or Nc3 without first blocking the c-pawn with 9.c3. It is named after the German master Hans (Johannes) Motzko, who explored the idea in the 1920s.

Key Ideas

• Flexible centre: By keeping the c-pawn free, White can later choose between c3 (solid) or c4 (more aggressive) depending on Black’s setup.
• Pressure on f7: The queen on e2 cooperates with Bb3 and Ng5 motifs, creating latent mating threats if Black is careless.
• Piece deployment: White often follows with Rd1, Nbd2, Nc3, and a4, aiming to exploit the pin on the e-file after exchanges.
• Black’s counter-plan: Black strives for …Nc5, …Be7, and …O-O, sometimes sacrificing a pawn with …f6 to break open the centre before White completes development.

Theory Snapshot

1. 9…Nc5 10. Rd1 Nxb3 11. axb3 Be7 12. c4 d4 — Black grabs the bishop-pair but lags in development.
2. 9…Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 — White maintains an extra pawn; Black relies on active bishops.
3. 9…Bc5 ?! 10. Rd1 Nxf2 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 Nxd1 13. Qc5! — a well-known trap that often appears in tactics books.

Historical & Practical Use

While the Motzko Attack has never been as popular as 9.c3, it has appeared in high-level practice as a surprise weapon:

• Karpov – Jansa, Buenos Aires 1979: Karpov showcased the quiet positional squeeze that 9.Qe2 can generate.
• Caruana – Domínguez, Wijk aan Zee 2015: A modern, computer-checked slugfest that ended in a razor-sharp draw.

Illustrative Mini-Game

White’s lead in development and the open lines on the queenside eventually told, illustrating the practical sting of this less-explored line.

Interesting Tidbits

• Because 9.Qe2 was offbeat for decades, it featured in several “win-or-go-home” situations in Soviet team championships, where surprise value outweighed objective evaluation.
• Modern engines rate the Motzko Attack as roughly equal but highly double-edged, making it attractive to players looking to avoid the heavily analysed 9.c3 main lines.
• In many databases the line is mistakenly labelled “Modern Attack” or “Qe2 Variation”; knowing the historical label “Motzko Attack” can help unearth older, less-known games for study.