Open Spanish: 10.Nbd2 Nc5 (tabiya)

Spanish: Open

Definition

The Open Variation of the Spanish (Ruy Lopez) arises after the moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4.
By immediately capturing the e4–pawn with the knight, Black opens the centre, steering the game away from the slower, manoeuvring Closed Spanish into sharp, tactical channels.

How it is used in play

Counter-attacking choice: Black accepts structural weaknesses (an e-pawn on e5 that can become isolated) in return for rapid piece activity.
Surprise weapon: At club level it often catches players who are more accustomed to facing the Closed lines.
Engine-friendly: Computers evaluate the resulting positions as roughly equal, so it has been popular in correspondence and engine-assisted analysis.

Strategic Significance

White normally plays 6. d4, sacrificing a pawn temporarily to gain time and open lines. Black strives for piece activity, often placing a knight on c5 and bishop on e6, while White targets the vulnerable e-pawn and seeks long-term pressure on the queenside.

Typical Move Orders

The main line continues:

6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5 (see the separate entry “10.Nbd2 Nc5”).

Historical Notes

Introduced in the 19^th century: Louis Paulsen and Karl Mayet experimented with 5…Nxe4.
Adopted by champions: Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, and more recently Fabiano Caruana all employed the Open Spanish in top-level events.
Kasparov vs. Anand, PCA 1995 Candidates: Kasparov unleashed a prepared improvement in the Open Spanish to win a critical game on his road to the title match.

Illustrative Mini-Game

[[Pgn| e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|a6|Ba4|Nf6|O-O|Nxe4|d4|b5|Bb3|d5|dxe5|Be6|, fen|r1bqkb1r/ppppbppp/2n1bn2/1P6/4N3/B1P5/P1P2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 10| arrows|e4e5,d5d4|squares|e5,c5 ]]

Interesting Facts

The ECO code for the Open Spanish ranges from C80 to C83.
Because the line often features symmetrical pawn structures after …d5xd4, it has been called “the Petrov inside the Ruy Lopez.”
Many modern strong engines now recommend it as Black’s most dynamic reply to 1. e4 e5.

Spanish: Classical

Definition

The Classical Defence to the Spanish appears after
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5.
Instead of the automatic 3…a6 (Morphy) or 3…Nf6 (Berlin), Black develops the bishop to an active diagonal, eyeing the f2–square and pinning the knight on d4 in some lines.

How it is used in play

Direct piece play: Black relies on natural development rather than pawn-structure subtleties.
Flexible transpositions: The line can morph into the Modern Steinitz or Schliemann-Jaenisch ideas with …f5.
Practical weapon: It avoids the deeply analysed Marshall and Berlin defences, forcing White to think for themselves early.

Strategic Themes

Black’s light-squared bishop posts itself actively, but the downside is that the c6-knight may become a target after c2-c3 and d2-d4. White usually chooses between:

4. c3 aiming for d2-d4 and central expansion.
4. O-O followed by c3 and d4 with more flexibility.
4. Nc3 transposing to the Four Knights Spanish.

Historical Significance

The Classical Defence was fashionable in the late 19^th century when early piece activity was prized over pawn structure.
Wilhelm Steinitz used it occasionally, and his analysis influenced later theory.
It had a brief renaissance thanks to Viktor Korchnoi, who employed it during the 1970s Candidates matches.

Example Game

Marshall – Capablanca, San Sebastián 1911

[[Pgn| e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|Bc5|c3|Nf6|d4|exd4|cxd4|Bb4+|Nc3|Nxe4|O-O|Bxc3|d5|O-O|, ]]

Interesting Facts

The ECO code for the Classical Defence is C64.
Sometimes called the “Cordel Defence” in older literature after Luis Ramón Pérez Cordel.
In modern databases it scores around 47 % for Black, roughly on par with the Berlin but with far fewer master-level games.

10.Nbd2 Nc5

Definition

“10.Nbd2 Nc5” denotes the key position reached in the main line of the Open Spanish after:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5.
The sequence is so firmly embedded in theory that the two-ply label “10.Nbd2 Nc5” is commonly used as shorthand for the entire tabiya.

Why the moves matter

10.Nbd2: White reinforces the e4–square, eyes c4, and completes development.
…Nc5: Black’s knight sidesteps the fork on e5, pressures the bishop on b3, and frees the d-file for rook activity.

Strategic Ideas in the Position

Piece Activity vs. Pawn Structure: Black has an isolated e-pawn but better-placed pieces.
Minor‐piece tug-of-war: Will the c5-knight capture on b3, giving White the bishop pair, or retreat to e6 to hold the centre?
Central tension: Moves such as …d4, c3-c4, and a timely a4 from White are typical plans.
Endgame Potential: If the queens come off, Black’s space and pawn weaknesses can become serious.

Main Branches After 10…Nc5

11. Bc2 d4 leads to dynamic, tactical positions.
11. Re1 O-O followed by queenside expansion with a4.
11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 with an isolated d-pawn structure.

Historical Usage

The 10.Nbd2 Nc5 tabiya has featured in many grandmaster battles:

Fischer – Spassky, Reykjavík 1972 (Game 9): Fischer obtained a small pull but Spassky held the draw.
Caruana – Anand, Candidates 2014: Caruana pressed for 64 moves before agreeing to a draw.

Illustrative Diagram

[[Pgn| e4|e5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|a6|Ba4|Nf6|O-O|Nxe4|d4|b5|Bb3|d5|dxe5|Be6|c3|Be7|Nbd2|Nc5, fen|r2qk2r/ppp1bppp/4b3/1nP5/4N3/B1P5/P1P1NPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 11| squares|e5,e6,c5,b3|arrows|c5b3,d5d4 ]]

Interesting Tidbits

The position after 10…Nc5 contains more than 30,000 master games in modern databases.
Engines often oscillate between 0.00 and +0.20 for White, illustrating how balanced yet razor-sharp the setup is.
Despite its equality reputation, it still serves as a fighting weapon because one inaccurate move can lead to a permanent structural disadvantage.