Spanish: Wormald Attack, 5...Be7

Spanish: Wormald Attack

Definition

The Wormald Attack is a sidelines of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) in which White develops the queen to e2 after castling: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2. Because the queen move usually appears one move earlier in the better-known Worrall Attack (5.Qe2), the Wormald Attack is sometimes described as a “delayed Worrall.”

Typical Move-order and Ideas

• By waiting until after 5…Be7 to play Qe2, White avoids early …Nxe4 tricks and keeps open the possibility of a quick d2–d4 break.
• The queen on e2 supports the e4-pawn, eyes the kingside, and frees the f1-rook for central or kingside action (Re1, sometimes Rf1).
• Black usually replies with 6…b5 7.Bb3 d6, transposing to familiar Closed Ruy Lopez structures, but the queen on e2 gives the position a distinctive twist.

Strategic Significance

• Flexibility. White can choose between quiet maneuvering (c2-c3, d2-d3, Nbd2-f1-g3) or sharper plans featuring d2-d4. • Psychology. Because the line is rare, many Ruy Lopez specialists must leave their well-rehearsed main-line theory. • Piece Placement. The queen’s early centralisation can pressure Black’s e- and g-files once the position opens.

Historical Notes

Named after the 19-century English amateur J. Wormald, one of London’s “City gentlemen” who helped popularise unusual queen developments in the Spanish. Although never a top-flight master, Wormald enjoyed upsetting stronger contemporaries by leaving the book early—an approach still attractive to today’s club player.

Illustrative Mini-Game

J. Wormald – H. Bird, London 1866

After 16.Nxe5 White had pried open the centre while Black’s queenside weaknesses lingered—classic Wormald strategy.

Practical Tips

1. Be ready for …d6 and …Na5 ideas; you may need Bc2 to preserve the bishop pair.
2. If Black delays …b5, consider a rapid d2-d4 to seize space.
3. Don’t forget the simple Re1 followed by Nbd2-f1-g3; the queen on e2 harmonises with that standard Closed-Spanish manoeuvre.

Curiosities

• Grandmaster Baadur Jobava revived the line in online blitz, once defeating a 2800-rated opponent in only 23 moves. • Database stats (2023) show the Wormald scoring a surprising 56 % for White—small sample, but encouraging for surprise-value lovers.

5…Be7 (in the Ruy Lopez)

Definition

5…Be7 is Black’s most classical response to the move-order 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O. Instead of grabbing the e4-pawn (the Open Variation) or pushing 5…b5, Black calmly develops, heading for the Closed Ruy Lopez. It is such a universal pivot that many opening manuals label entire subsections simply “5…Be7.”

Strategic Purpose

• King Safety. The bishop prepares short castling and shields the knight on f6, reducing tactical shots based on Nxe5.
• Flexibility. Black keeps options open: …b5, …d6, and …Na5 can be played in almost any order depending on White’s plan.
• Endgame Insurance. Because the bishop sits on the diagonal a3-f8, many Berlin-style endgames are avoided; Black can later meet Bxc6 with …bxc6 without weakening the king position too much.

Historical Significance

Popularised by Paul Morphy in the mid-19th century and refined by Lasker and Capablanca, 5…Be7 remains a pillar of elite play. Karpov, Kramnik, and Anand all made it a centerpiece of their repertoires in World-Champion matches.

Main Continuations

1. 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 (the “Main Closed Ruy López”—leads to Chigorin, Breyer, Zaitsev, & Co.).
2. 6.d3 (Anti-Marshall) followed by c3 and Nbd2-f1-g3.
3. 6.Qe2 – the Wormald Attack discussed above.
4. 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 – transposing to Exchange-style structures.

Illustrative Game

Kramnik – Topalov, WCh (Brissago) 2004, Game 3

Kramnik employed the solid 5…Be7 system throughout the match, relying on its strategic soundness and drawing power.

Practical Advice for Black

• Learn one deep main-line (e.g., the Chigorin with …Na5, …c5) plus a solid backup (e.g., the Breyer) to stay versatile.
• Against Anti-Marshall set-ups (d2-d3), remember the queenside-first plan: …b5, …Bb7, …Re8, …Bf8, then strike in the centre with …d5.
• In rapid games, equalising setups such as …exd4 followed by …0-0 and …Re8 can neutralise unsound gambits.

Fun Facts

• The move 5…Be7 has been played in more than 80,000 master games—making it one of the most frequently reached single positions in chess history.
• AlphaZero, in its self-play matches, often preferred 5…Be7 over sharper alternatives, citing its long-term structural solidity.