Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...a6/4. Ba4/4...Nf6/5. O-O/5...b5/6. Bb3/6...Bc5

Ruy Lopez
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk2r/2pp1ppp/p1n2n2/1pb1p3/4P3/1B3N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez

Modern-Arkhangelsk Variation

Black wagers that his dark-square bishop is more active here, while his light-square bishop may yet wish to develop along either diagonal. Transpositions to the Old Arkhangelsk (6...Bb7) are common, but there are independent lines involving ...Bg4 as well. White's main ideas in the position are a4, attacking the weak b5 pawn at once, c3 followed by d4, gaining central space and taking a tempo off Black's c5 bishop, or some combination. Also played, but less critical, are 7. Nc3 and 7. d3. The central fork trick 7. Nxe5 leaves white without the prospect of greater central control than his pawn on e4 can provide.