Ruy Lopez Opening: Berlin Beverwijk Zukertort Benelux
Ruy Lopez
Definition
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening, arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Named for the 16-century Spanish priest and chess author Ruy López de Segura, it is one of the oldest and most deeply analysed openings in chess history.
Typical Use in Play
- White attacks the defender of the e5-pawn (the knight on c6) and prepares to increase pressure with moves such as 0-0, Re1 and d2–d4.
- Black chooses among several set-ups, the most popular being the Morphy Defense (3…a6), Berlin Defense (3…Nf6), and Open Ruy Lopez (3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4).
- The opening is renowned for strategic richness: pawn structure imbalances, long-term bishop vs. knight struggles, and subtle manoeuvring are common.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Because it often leads to positions that reward precise positional play, the Ruy Lopez has been a favourite at the very highest levels for 150 years. World Champions from Steinitz to Carlsen have used it as a main weapon with both colours.
Illustrative Example
One of the most celebrated Ruy Lopez games is Game 6 of the 1972 World Championship match, in which Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky with a brilliant exchange sacrifice.
Interesting Facts
- The line 3…a6 is called the Morphy Defense, because Paul Morphy played it to avoid being pinned and to question the bishop’s intentions immediately.
- Several entire books—most famously by Steinitz and later by Tarrasch—were devoted solely to the Ruy Lopez even before 1900.
- Its study has produced famous “tabias” such as the Marshall Attack, the Chigorin, and the Breyer, each a universe of theory on its own.
Berlin (Defense of the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The Berlin, or “Berlin Wall,” is a defensive system for Black beginning 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6. Annotated in the mid-1800s by members of the Berlin Chess Club, it entered the modern limelight after Vladimir Kramnik used it to dethrone Garry Kasparov in their 2000 World Championship match.
Usage & Typical Plans
- Early queen exchange: After 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8, queens come off and Black accepts a slightly passive but very solid endgame.
- Closed Berlin: White can decline the exchange with 4. d3, leading to manoeuvring middlegames rich in strategic themes such as the d5-break for Black or the c3-d4 thrust for White.
Strategic Significance
Unlike many open games, the Berlin trades tactical fireworks for iron-clad structure and an extra tempo in a bishop endgame. Masters facing must-draw situations often adopt it because:
- Black’s pawn skeleton (f7-e5-d6 or e5-c6) is hard to undermine.
- The king is safe in the centre, and endgame theory is well mapped.
- White’s nominal bishop pair strength is offset by Black’s healthier pawn structure.
Historical & Famous Games
Kasparov – Kramnik, WCh 2000 (Games 1, 3, 5, 10) is the classic illustration; Kasparov’s vaunted Ruy Lopez arsenal repeatedly bounced off Kramnik’s Berlin Wall.
Trivia
- The line’s reputation was once so drawish that some grandmasters dubbed it “the Berlin Draw.”
- In 2013, Magnus Carlsen adopted the Berlin in his own title match, citing its “computer-proof” solidity.
Beverwijk Tournament
Definition
Beverwijk refers to the Dutch coastal town (province of North Holland) that hosted an annual elite chess event from 1938 until 1967. The tournament later moved a few kilometres to Wijk aan Zee—today celebrated worldwide as the Tata Steel Chess Tournament.
Role in Chess Culture
- Traditionally held in January, it became known as “The Chess Players’ Holiday,” mixing top seeds with rising stars.
- Winners’ list reads like a who’s who of mid-20th-century chess: Savielly Tartakower (1938), Max Euwe (1940), Bent Larsen (1961), among others.
- The event’s relentless round-robin format fosters creative, fighting chess that often produces early season Game of the Year candidates.
Notable Anecdotes
In 1967, a 20-year-old R. Fischer made his first Dutch appearance, finishing a half-point behind Efim Geller. The following year the playing hall moved, but locals still nostalgically speak of “Beverwijk” to describe the entire Tata Steel tradition.
Zukertort Opening (1. Nf3)
Definition
The Zukertort Opening begins with 1. Nf3. Named after 19th-century Polish-German master Johannes Zukertort, the move is deliberately non-committal, keeping options open for both d- and c-pawns.
How It Is Used
Because 1.Nf3 attacks none of Black’s centre pawns directly, it often transposes:
- To the Queen’s Gambit or Catalan after 2.c4 or 2.g3 and 3.d4.
- To the English after 2.c4.
- To the King’s Indian Attack against French, Sicilian or Caro-Kann structures: e.g., 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.d3.
Strategic Themes
- Flexibility: White defers committing the c-pawn and central pawn duo.
- Piece Play: Quick kingside fianchetto lines (g3, Bg2) aim for long-term pressure on the long diagonal.
- Surprise Value: Prepared players can steer the game toward less-analysed territory.
Famous Example
In the classic Zukertort – Blackburne, London 1883, White started 1.Nf3 and steered into a positional masterpiece that contributed to his tournament victory.
Interesting Facts
- Modern engines give 1.Nf3 roughly the same evaluation as 1.e4 and 1.d4, confirming its solidity.
- World Champions Anand and Kramnik have both used 1.Nf3 as a drawing weapon when leading a match and as a fighting weapon with computer-backed ideas.
Benelux Variation (Leningrad Dutch)
Definition
The Benelux Variation is a line of the Leningrad Dutch Defence reached via:
1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6.
The name honours Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg—reflecting its Dutch Defence roots and early analysis by Benelux masters.
Plans & Ideas
- Black: Play …e5 to seize central space, keep the bishop on g7 active, and sometimes expand with …a6 and …Rb8 for a queenside pawn storm.
- White: Challenge the centre with d4-d5 or e2-e4, exploit the d5-square, and attack the slightly weakened dark squares around Black’s king.
- An early manoeuvre Re1–e4–h4 or Bg5 can be annoying for Black if not handled accurately.
Example Mini-Line
Historical Usage
Dutch grandmaster Jan Timman and Belgian GM Luc Winants popularised the variation during the 1980s. It remains a go-to line for players who enjoy dynamic, unbalanced middlegames.
Trivia
- The move 7…Nc6 breaks classical dogma that the c-pawn “belongs” on c6 in Dutch setups; nevertheless it scores well in practice.
- In some databases the same position is indexed under ECO code A87, but the nickname “Benelux” is still preferred by club players.