Ruy Lopez: Anderssen Variation 5...b5

Ruy Lopez

Definition

The Ruy Lopez—also called the Spanish Opening—is a classical chess opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. White’s third-move bishop attack on the knight at c6 indirectly pressures Black’s e5-pawn and aims for long-term positional advantages such as the pair of bishops and queenside pawn weaknesses.

Typical Move-Order

Although countless branches exist, the starting tabiya is:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 (entering the Morphy Defence).

You may visualise the basic layout here:
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Strategic Themes

• Central Tension: White targets e5 while Black counters on e4.
• Minor-Piece Imbalances: White can exchange on c6, doubling Black’s pawns; Black aims to use the bishop pair or pawn centre as compensation.
• Long-Term Plans:
  • White: build up with c3 – d4, probe the queenside weaknesses, or launch a kingside initiative.
  • Black: maintain a solid centre, free the position with ...d5, or generate counterplay on the queenside.

Historical Significance

Named after 16th-century Spanish priest – player Ruy López de Segura, it is one of the oldest recorded openings. It gained iconic status in the 19th century through the analyses of Paul Morphy and later José Raúl Capablanca. World Champions from Steinitz to Carlsen have used it both with White and Black, making it a mainstay at every level of play.

Famous Illustrative Games

• Morphy – Duke Karl / Count Isouard, Paris 1858 – The “Opera Game” showcases a swift kingside attack after 6.Bxc6.
• Fischer – Spassky, World Championship 1972, Game 6 – Fischer’s model positional win in the Closed Ruy.
• Carlsen – Anand, World Championship 2014, Game 6 – Modern handling of the Berlin Endgame.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The Berlin Defence (3…Nf6) was once nicknamed the “Berlin Wall” after Kramnik used it to neutralise Kasparov in 2000.
• In historical hand-written manuals, Ruy López suggested the bishop move to b5 as an ambush rather than an immediate threat.
• The opening’s ECO codes range from C60 to C99—one of the broadest swaths in the entire Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.

Anderssen Variation: 5…b5

Definition

The Anderssen Variation is a specific branch in the Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5. Black kicks the bishop a second time before committing the king’s-bishop, an idea popularised by 19th-century German tactician Adolf Anderssen.

Purpose & Strategic Ideas

• Immediate Question: ...b5 forces White’s bishop to retreat to b3 or Bb3-b3. This gains space and can prepare ...Bb7 or ...Bc5.
• Delaying ...Be7: By postponing kingside development, Black keeps options flexible—perhaps ...Bb7, ...Bc5, or even a quick ...d5 in some lines.
• Pawns vs. Pieces: Black accepts potential weaknesses (a6-b5 pawn chain) in exchange for piece activity and the clamp on c4.

Theoretical Status

Modern grandmasters more commonly prefer 5…Be7 (the Closed Ruy) or 5…Nxe4 (Open Ruy) because 5…b5 can allow White a small, lasting edge after 6.Bb3. Nonetheless, the variation is entirely playable and can sidestep well-analysed main lines.

Illustrative Line

A typical continuation might be:

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Here, Black has obtained queenside space, while White readies d4.

Historical & Practical Notes

• Origins: Anderssen introduced the idea in the 1860s, showcasing dynamic pawn pushes over immediate piece safety.
• Revival Attempts: Players like Bent Larsen and Alexander Shirov occasionally trotted out 5…b5 to avoid heavy theory.
• Computer Age: Engines tend to prefer quieter alternatives, yet the variation remains useful as a surprise weapon in over-the-board or rapid play.

Example Game

Shirov – Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 1996 employed 5…b5, leading to uncompromising play and a tactical middlegame, though White ultimately converted the better structure.

Interesting Tidbits

• Because the bishop retreats twice in the first six moves, some beginners misinterpret 5…b5?! as violating the opening principles; yet top-level practice shows it can be quite resilient.
• In casual circles it’s nicknamed the Two-Boot Ruy, since the bishop is “kicked” by pawns on both a6 and b5.
• The move 5…b5 also creates tactical motifs such as …Na5 trapping the Bb3 if White is careless.