Spanish: Modern Steinitz, 5.O-O Bg4
Spanish: Modern Steinitz
Definition
The Modern Steinitz is a branch of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6. By inserting …a6 before …d6, Black keeps the bishop on a4 and delays the central confrontation, creating a flexible pawn structure. The name distinguishes it from the 19th-century “Old Steinitz” (4…d6 without …a6). Both are associated with the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, who pioneered the idea of a solid, defensive centre combined with latent counter-punching opportunities.
Typical Move-Order
The Modern Steinitz starts after move 4, but typical play continues:
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6
(Modern Steinitz Defence) - 5. O-O – the most popular reply, when Black chooses among 5…Bg4, 5…Nf6 or 5…b5.
Strategic Themes
- Compressed but resilient centre – Black delays …Nf6, avoiding the immediate pin with Re1, and keeps the e5-pawn solidly protected.
- Minor-piece tension – White’s light-squared bishop eyes c6 and e5; Black often maintains the bishop pair and seeks …f5 breaks.
- Pawn breaks – Black’s main counter-thrusts are …f5 and …d5. White aims for c3–d4 or c4 (if the bishop retreats to c2).
- Flexible king placement – Black can castle either side; queenside castling is not rare in sharper sub-lines.
Historical & Theoretical Notes
- Popularised by Steinitz in his 1870s–1890s match games, notably against Anderssen and Chigorin.
- Re-examined by Soviet analysts in the 1950s, with Isaac Boleslavsky and David Bronstein adding many modern ideas.
- Appears sporadically at top level; e.g. Karpov–Unzicker, Skopje 1972; Anand–Topalov, Sofia 2010.
- ECO codes: C71–C76 cover the Modern Steinitz and its branches.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Interesting Facts
- Steinitz used the line as a psychological weapon, preferring defence before counter-attack—an approach then considered heretical.
- Because the centre remains closed for a long time, the game often swings from “quiet” to “tactical explosion” after one pawn break.
5.O-O Bg4 (C71)
Definition
In the Modern Steinitz Defence, the move 5…Bg4 is Black’s most direct response to 5.O-O. The bishop pins the white knight on f3, increases control over the e5-pawn, and prepares either …Nd4 or …h6/…g5 to consolidate. The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bg4 is the ECO C71 main tabiya.
Purpose & Strategic Ideas
- Undermining e4 – By pinning Nf3, Black indirectly pressures e4, often combining the idea with …Nd4 or …f5.
- Provocation – White must decide whether to chase the bishop (h3, g4), tolerate the pin, or break it with d4.
- Dynamic imbalance – If Black later exchanges on f3, the doubled pawns give White the two bishops and a semi-open g-file, but Black gains a long-term target and clears the e5-square.
- Delayed king safety – Black sometimes castles queenside or keeps the king central, especially after …Qf6 and …O-O-O.
Main Continuations
- 6. h3 Bh5 7. c3 A solid line where White drives the bishop back but loses a tempo; Black can prepare …g5 or …Qf6.
- 6. c3 Qf6 7. d4 Bxf3 8. gxf3 The “Fischer Variation,” doubling White’s f-pawns in exchange for the bishop pair and central space.
- 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 Nxd4 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Nxe5+ dxe5 10. Qxg4 A sharp gambit line once analysed by Boleslavsky; both kings are exposed.
Historical Highlights
- Steinitz – Chigorin, World-Championship 1892: Steinitz successfully absorbed pressure with 5…Bg4 and later struck with …f5.
- Bronstein – Boleslavsky, Moscow 1950 (Candidates): A theoretical duel in the 6.c3 Qf6 line, ending in a spectacular perpetual check.
- Anand – Topalov, WCh 2010: Topalov revived the variation with modern computer preparation, demonstrating Black’s durability.
Model Line (Tabiya)
Interesting Anecdotes
- The manoeuvre 5…Bg4 6.h3 h5!? known as the “Richter Gambit” sacrifices a pawn to keep the pin; it was popularised by German master Kurt Richter in the 1930s.
- In several of Bobby Fischer’s training notebooks, the 6.c3 Qf6 line received a full page of exclamation marks, indicating his belief in White’s attacking chances after gxf3 and Kh1-Rg1.
- Because the line can transpose to the Open Variation or even certain Philidor-like structures, database statistics show a remarkably balanced score (~50 % for each side across 30,000 games).