Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...a6/4. Ba4/4...Nf6/5. O-O/5...Nxe4/6. d4/6...b5/7. Bb3
| Open Spanish | |
|---|---|
|
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 | |
| ECO code: C80 | |
| Parent: Spanish game → Open Spanish → 6...b5 | |
7. Bb3
[edit | edit source]White brings their bishop away from danger. It is well placed on the a2-g8 diagonal. Now White is threatening dxe5 to recapture the pawn. Rather than be greedy, Black should allow White to take the pawn back and focus on improving their own position instead.
White also has another threat. Three of Black's pieces are aligned on the same diagonal, and many amateur games have run afoul of ideas involving Bd5!, attacking both knights and pinning the knight on c6 to the rook on a8. If Black underestimates this danger they can lose quickly. Not uncommon in amateur databases are:
- 7...exd4?, thinking that trading is good when one is up material, makes the mistake of opening the e-file before Black has castled, and White is ready to exploit it. One line is 8. Re1 (pinning the knight) d5 9. Nc3!, threatening Bxd5, where 9...dxc3? 10. Bxd5! anyway.
- 7...d6??, thinking to defend the pawn on e5, allows 8. Bd5! immediately.
- 7...Na5? walks into either 8. Bd5! or 8. Bxf7+! Kxf7 9. Nxe5+ Kg8 10. Qf3.
- 7...Nxd4? is refuted by 8. Nxd4 exd4? 9. Bd5!.
As there is no good way to prevent dxe5 or hold onto the pawn (we've looked at 7...exd4? and 7...d6?; of course 7...f6? and 7...Qf6? are no good either), Black should give it back and make an improving move.
7...d5 is far and away the main move. This move should be foremost in Black's mind: it takes space, it fortifies the knight on e4, it limits the scope of the bishop on b3 (the d5 square is now defended by Black's queen), and it affords Black some flexibility in the development of the back rank.
7...Be7 is the only alternative to consider, but after 8. dxe5 it is too late to play ...d5. 8...O-O 9. Bd5 Nc5, gives White the space and an easier time completing their development.
Theory table
[edit | edit source]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
| 7 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ... 7 ...d5 |
= | |
| ... 7 ... Be7 |
+= |
References
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source] | Wikipedia has related information at Ruy Lopez. |
King's gambit
Accepted
Declined
Vienna
- Barnes ?
- Borg ?
- Corn stalk ??
- Duras ??
- 1...b5 ??
Zukertort