Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...a6/4. Ba4/4...b5/5. Bb3

Morphy Defence
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) r1bqkbnr/2pp1ppp/p1n5/1p2p3/4P3/1B3N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Morphy Defence

Black has taken back the initiative and has to make an important strategic choice.

The most intuitive way to go on is to put pressure on the e4 pawn by the mean of 5...Nf6 or 5...Bb7.

If Black really wants to get rid of the white bishop, he can try the Norwegian Defence 5...Na5, a line that can become very sharp if White tries the Bxf7+ sacrifice.

Another classical way to go on is 5...Bc5.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3

	5
Norwegian Defence	... Na5	=
Graz Defence	... Bc5	=
	... Bb7	=
	... Nf6	=

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References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.