Ruy Lopez: Classical Central Variation Cordel Gambit
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening, is the sequence
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. It is named after the 16-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, whose treatise “Libro de la Invención Liberal y Arte del Juego del Axedrez” (1561) laid the first systematic foundations of modern opening study.
Typical Move Order & Main Branches
After 3…Bb5, Black chooses a defence that defines the sub-variation:
- 3…a6 – Morphy, Chigorin & Closed Systems (C60-C99)
- 3…Nf6 – Berlin Defence (C65-C67)
- 3…d6 – Steinitz Defence (C62-C63)
- 3…Bc5 – Classical Defence (C64) (see next heading for a sub-line)
- 3…f5 – Schliemann/Jaenisch Gambit (C63)
Strategic Themes
- Pressure on the pawn at e5 – the bishop on b5 continually eyes the knight that protects it.
- Long-term fight for the center with d2–d4 and c2–c3 versus …d7–d6/…d7–d5.
- Minor-piece imbalance – White usually keeps the light-squared bishop; Black often obtains the bishop pair by …a6 …b5.
- Slow, manoeuvring play – typical piece routes include Nb1–d2–f1–g3/f1–e3 and …Ng8–f6–e8–g7.
Historical Significance
No other double-king-pawn opening has been analysed as deeply or played as frequently in world-championship matches. From Steinitz – Zukertort (1886) to Carlsen – Nepomniachtchi (2021), the Ruy Lopez has served as a main battlefield of chess ideas.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn|e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|a6|Ba4|Nf6|O-O|Be7|Re1|b5|Bb3|d6|c3|O-O|h3|Nb8|d4|Nbd7|c4| fen|rnbq1rk1/ppp1bppp/3ppn2/1b6/2PP4/1BPP1N1P/PP3PP1/RNBQR1K1|arrows|e4e5,c3c4,d4d5|squares|e5,d4]]Fischer – Spassky, Game 6, Reykjavík 1972. Fischer’s choice of the Closed Spanish led to a positional masterpiece and his first win with White in the match.
Interesting Facts
- Because of its deep theory, professional players sometimes avoid the Ruy Lopez not with other openings, but by tackling it from the Black side (the so-called “Kasparov strategy”).
- The opening has its own defensive subculture—the “Berlin Wall” (3…Nf6)—which earned Vladimir Kramnik the world crown in 2000.
- A complete monograph on just one of its sub-lines (the Marshall Attack) can exceed 400 pages.
Classical Central Variation (of the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The Classical Central Variation arises after the moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 d5!? (ECO C64).
Black immediately strikes at the centre instead of the quieter 4…Nf6. The line is sometimes called the “Center Attack” inside the Classical Defence.
Key Continuations
- 5. Nxe5 Qh4 6. d4 Qxe4+ 7. Be3 – a forcing mêlée where both sides’ queens roam.
- 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. d4 – structural struggle; Black’s bishop pair offsets White’s space.
Strategic and Practical Considerations
- Early tension – Neither side is castled and queens often become active before move 10.
- Piece activity vs. structural soundness – Black accepts an isolated queen or king pawn but tries to free the game for the bishops on c5 and c8.
- Theory light – Compared with the 3…a6 main lines, concrete calculation outweighs long book lines, attracting attacking players with Black.
Model Encounter
[[Pgn|e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|Bc5|c3|d5|Nxe5|Qg5|d4|Qxg2|Qf3|Qxf3|Nxf3| fen|rnb1kbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2N3/3P4/2P2N2/PP3PP1/R1BQK2R|arrows|e5f7,g5g2|squares|f7]]Morphy-style fireworks occur in the early middlegame; both kings remain in the centre.
Interesting Tidbits
- Because the move order can transpose to the Scotch or Göring Gambit ideas, opponents who rely strictly on Spanish preparation can be caught off guard.
- Grandmaster Sergey Tiviakov used 4…d5 successfully in rapid and blitz, dubbing it “an Italian with an extra tempo.”
- The variation was a favourite of the romantic 19-century players Adolf Anderssen and Johannes Zukertort, well before its modern ECO code was coined.
Cordel Gambit (in the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The Cordel Gambit appears after
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 f5!?
Black sacrifices a pawn to seize central space and an open f-file. The line is named after the German master Paul Rudolf Cordel (1840-1915), who analysed it in the late 19th century.
Main Line
- 5. d4 fxe4
- 6. Ng5 exd4 7. Nxe4 – White regains the pawn, reaching a razor-sharp position.
Strategic Points
- Opening of the f-file – Black’s rook on f8 joins the game unusually early.
- Development lead for White – If Black mishandles the centre, simple moves like 0-0 create dangerous threats on e4 and f7.
- Objective assessment – Engines give White a small plus, but practical chances are rich thanks to asymmetry and piece activity.
Historical & Modern Usage
Though never a mainstream choice at elite level, the Cordel Gambit surfaces in blitz and correspondence play. Alexander Morozevich essayed it twice in the early 2000s, scoring 1½/2 against grandmaster opposition.
Illustrative Miniature
[[Pgn|e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|Bc5|c3|f5|d4|fxe4|Ng5|exd4|Nxe4|Be7|O-O|Nf6|Nxf6+|Bxf6|Re1| fen|rnbqk2r/ppppbppp/2n2b2/1B6/3N4/2P5/PP3PPP/R1BQR1K1|arrows|f5f4,c5f2|squares|f7,e4]]White eventually won after exploiting the weakened dark squares around Black’s king.
Fun Facts
- Because both sides can castle on opposite wings after 0-0-0 by Black, the gambit often produces races reminiscent of the Sicilian Dragon—but with the Spanish structure.
- Modern databases show an even score under 2300 level, but White’s performance rises above 60% past the 2500 mark – a testament to its risky nature.
- Some sources call 4…f5 the “Spanish Counter-Gambit,” yet that term is also used for the Jaenisch (3…f5), so “Cordel Gambit” avoids confusion.