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...exd4/7. Re1/7...d5/8. Nxd4/8...Bd6/9. Nxc6/9...Bxh2/10. Kh1/10...Qh4/11. Rxe4
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Ruy Lopez:Riga Variation | |
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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 exd4 7. Re1 d5 8. Nxd4 Bd6 9. Nxc6 Bxh2 10. Kh1 Qh4 11. Rxe4 |
Ruy Lopez, Riga Variation, Main Line
[edit | edit source]White takes the knight on e4, sacrificing the exchange to remove black's pressure on the f2 square. Now black has two options to retake: with 11...Qxe4 or 11...dxe4.
It turns out that 11...Qxe4, while possibly appealing because it attacks the a4 bishop, is an error. Moving the queen away lessens the pressure on the f2 square and leaves the h2 bishop hanging. White can counter the attack on his bishop with either 12. Nd4 (blocking the attack), or 12. Nc3 (defending the bishop).
Therefore, 11...dxe4 is the main line.