Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...f5/4. Nc3/4...fxe4/5. Nxe4/5...d5/6. Nxe5/6...dxe4/7. Nxc6/7...Qg5/8. Qe2

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< Chess Opening Theory‎ | 1. e4‎ | 1...e5‎ | 2. Nf3‎ | 2...Nc6‎ | 3. Bb5‎ | 3...f5‎ | 4. Nc3‎ | 4...fxe4‎ | 5. Nxe4‎ | 5...d5‎ | 6. Nxe5‎ | 6...dxe4‎ | 7. Nxc6‎ | 7...Qg5
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Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 white knightd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 white bishopc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black queenh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white queenf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 black kinge1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Common moves:
8...Nf6 - only move

Black has to defend the e4-pawn, and does so with 8...Nf6, which has the additional benefit of covering h5.

8...Bf5 has a specific tactical problem: 9.f4! is a counter-sacrifice that White wants to play anyway, and with the bishop on f5 the pawn can't be taken: 9...Qxf4?? 10.Rf1 Qg5 11.Rxf5 Qxf5 12.Nd4+ is curtains. Plus, in the current position Black does have a secondary threat of ...a6 and ...Bd7 pinning and winning the c6-knight, which doesn't work if the bishop is away defending e4. Plus, f6 is almost certainly the best square for the knight anyway.

Another line that doesn't work is 8...Qxg2. The downside of playing ...f5 in the opening is the need to be vigilant about queen checks on h5. Here 9.Qh5+ g6 (or 9...Qg6 10.Ne5+) 10.Qe5+ punishes Black severely for her pawn-grabbing. 8...Nf6 cuts out this check, turning the illusory threat of ...Qxg2 into a real one.