Spanish: Modern Steinitz, 5.O-O Bd7
Spanish: Modern Steinitz, 5.O-O Bd7
Definition
The line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bd7 is called the Modern Steinitz Variation (or “Spanish: Modern Steinitz, 5.O-O Bd7”). It belongs to the Ruy Lopez (Spanish) opening and is catalogued in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings as C73. Black’s early …d6 embodies Wilhelm Steinitz’s principle of reinforcing the centre before counter-attacking, while the immediate …Bd7 breaks the pin on the c6-knight and prepares flexible development.
Typical Move Order
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bb5 a6
- Ba4 d6
- O-O Bd7
- 6. d4 Nf6 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 Be7 9. c3 O-O – the classical main line.
- 6. c3 Nf6 7. Re1 Be7 8. h3 O-O – a slower, manoeuvring approach.
- 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. d4 – an attempt to exploit the doubled c-pawns.
Strategic Ideas
- Unpinning and solidity: …Bd7 neutralises the Ba4 pin on the knight, allowing …Nf6 without fear of an immediate d4-d5 fork.
- Flexible piece placement: Black can choose among …Nf6, …g6, …Be7, or even …Na5 in some lines, keeping the position fluid.
- Latent counter-attack: Once castled, Black often strikes with …exd4 followed by …g6 or …c5, challenging White’s centre.
- Drawback: Passive bishop: The d7-bishop can become “bad,” locked behind the e-pawn; Black must eventually find activity via …c5 or rerouting to g6.
Historical Background
Wilhelm Steinitz, the first World Champion, pioneered the original Steinitz Defence (…d6 and …Bg4). As theory evolved, the bishop move to g4 was found risky; the “Modern” twist with …Bd7 (credited to theoreticians in the early 20th century) offered a more robust alternative. The variation gained renewed respect when players such as Emanuel Lasker, Efim Bogoljubow, and later Anatoly Karpov adopted it sporadically to sidestep mountains of Ruy Lopez theory.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn| e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|a6|Ba4|d6|O-O|Bd7|d4|b5|Bb3|Nf6|Re1|Be7|c3|O-O|h3|Re8|Nbd2|Bf8|Nf1|h6|Ng3|c5|dxc5|dxc5|Bd5|Qc7|Nh4|Rad8|Qf3|Be6|Bxe6|Rxe6|Nhf5|Ne7|a4|c4|axb5|axb5|Be3|Ng6|Ra7|Qc6|Rea1|Rd7|Ra8|Kh7|R1a6 |fen||arrows|e2e4,e7e5,b5b4,c6d4|squares|d4,c5]]
Karpov – Jussupow, USSR Ch. 1986
The Bd7 line proved resilient; Karpov was unable to crack Black’s fortress and the game was eventually drawn after a long manoeuvring battle.
Typical Tactics & Motifs
- …Nxd4 break: After 6.d4 Nf6 7.Re1 b5 8.Bb3, Black sometimes plays …Nxd4!? exploiting pins along the e-file.
- C8-h3 diagonal: In lines with …g6 and …Bg7, the “bad” bishop is fianchettoed, pressuring d4.
- c-file pressure: If White captures on c6, Black’s doubled c-pawns become battering rams after …c5.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The Modern Steinitz was once a favourite of correspondence players, who valued its soundness over sharp theoretical races.
- Gata Kamsky revived the line in the 1990s, scoring several wins with creative pawn-storm ideas on the kingside.
- Because the bishop often re-routes to g7, some grandmasters half-jokingly call this system a “delayed Pirc inside a Ruy Lopez jacket.”
When to Use It
Choose the 5…Bd7 Modern Steinitz if you:
- Prefer solid, strategically rich positions over forced tactical duels.
- Wish to avoid the voluminous Marshall, Berlin, and Open Ruy Lopez theory.
- Are comfortable playing slightly cramped positions and manoeuvring for the long term.
Summary
The Spanish: Modern Steinitz, 5.O-O Bd7 is a time-tested, resilient defence that embodies Steinitz’s positional principles while allowing modern flexibility. Though less popular at elite level than the Berlin or Marshall, it remains a practical weapon for players who relish strategic complexity and are prepared to handle a somewhat passive light-squared bishop in exchange for a rock-solid structure.