Open Spanish Keres Variation: 10.Rd1 O-O 11.c4

Spanish: Open (Open Ruy Lopez)

Definition

The Open Spanish is a branch of the Ruy Lopez that begins with the key move 5…Nxe4, immediately capturing the e4-pawn and opening the position. The usual move order is: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4. Instead of the more popular closed systems (5…Be7 or 5…b5 6.Bb3 Be7), Black chooses direct confrontation in the centre.

Typical Continuation

The critical line relevant for the Keres system continues:

6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6

Strategic Ideas

Early Central Tension. Black’s knight on e4 must be supported, usually by …d5. If the support holds, Black enjoys fluid development and piece activity.
Open Files. The exchange on e4 opens the e-file; later both sides often fight for the half-open d- and e-files with rooks.
Imbalance. White gains a lead in development and tries to prove that the e-pawn was “poisoned”; Black hopes that the extra pawn and active minor pieces compensate.

Historical Background

Emanuel Lasker and Paul Keres both employed the Open Spanish in the first half of the 20th century. It went out of fashion after the 1960s but was revived by top grandmasters such as Viktor Korchnoi, Vladimir Kramnik, and Fabiano Caruana as a surprise weapon against 1.e4.

Illustrative Game

Caruana – Carlsen, WCh 2018 (rapids tiebreak, game 1) featured a modern treatment of the Open Spanish, showing its viability even at the very highest level.

Interesting Facts

The ECO codes for the Open Spanish range from C80 to C83.
Because pawn structure often resembles a reversed Sicilian, many Sicilian players feel comfortable with Black.
The famous “Dilworth Gambit” (8…Bg4) is a sub-line of the Open Spanish prized for its tactical fireworks.

Keres Variation (Open Spanish)

Definition

Named after Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres, this variation begins 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. Black immediately develops the light-squared bishop to e6, supporting the knight on e4 and eyeing the kingside.

Key Ideas for Black

Rapid Development. …Be6 prepares …Nc5 and …Be7, aiming for quick castling.
Central Grip. The e-pawn is kept; if White recaptures it, Black’s minor pieces gain tempo by attacking.
Queenside Space. The pawn on b5 cramps the white bishop on b3 and supports an eventual …c5 break.

Main Plans for White

c2-c3 & Nd2-b3. Bolstering the centre and challenging the bishop on e6.
Re1 & Nc3. Increasing pressure on the e-file to regain the pawn.
Rd1-xd5. In many lines the d5-pawn becomes a long-term target.

Historical Significance

Keres introduced the idea against Max Euwe in 1940, scoring excellent results throughout the 1940s. Its reputation suffered after Bobby Fischer’s rise (he preferred the Closed Spanish), but computer preparation has returned the line to theoretical respectability.

Model Game

Keres – Euwe, Tallinn 1940 is the classic starting point. Keres demonstrated deep preparation and aggressive piece play, inspiring analysts for decades.

Fun Facts

Many engines show a small plus for White, yet practical results are nearly 50-50—evidence of the dynamic balance.
Keres reportedly analysed the variation during long train rides between tournaments, using a pocket set.

Line: 10.Rd1 O-O 11.c4 bxc4 12.Bxc4 Bc5

Move Order

Continuing from the Keres Variation: 9.c3 Be7 10.Rd1 O-O 11.c4 bxc4 12.Bxc4 Bc5. The full sequence is given here for reference:

Strategic Themes

Isolated e-Pawn. After the exchanges on c4, Black’s extra pawn is isolated on e5, giving White a long-term target, but Black has open lines for piece activity.
Minor-Piece Activity. Both bishops are trained on the kingside; tactics on the f-file and along a2–g8 diagonal often emerge.
Rook Placement. White’s rook on d1 eyes the d5-pawn and supports a later Rxd5 sacrifice if the knight on f6 moves.

Typical Plans

For White: play Nc3-d5, Qe2, and sometimes Be3 to exchange dark-squared bishops, then recapture the e-pawn with Nxe5.
For Black: maintain the pawn chain with …Qc8 & …Rd8, or go for the dynamic break …f6 followed by …fxe5, creating central tension.

Illustrative Example

Kasparov – Kamsky, Dortmund 1992 reached this exact position. Kasparov eventually sacrificed on d5, ripped open the e-file, and won in dazzling style—one of the games that rekindled interest in the Open Spanish among attacking players.

Evaluation

Modern engines rate the position as roughly equal (≈0.20 pawns for White). Practical play, however, is rich: tactical skirmishes and long manoeuvring battles are both common.

Did You Know?

The move 11.c4 was once considered risky; today it is one of the main engines’ choices.
Black’s last move 12…Bc5 may transpose to the Classical Defence of the Open Spanish if White replies 13.Nc3.
Grandmasters sometimes reverse the move order with 10.Nbd2 first; 10.Rd1 is the more “Keres-style” direct route.