Position after 9 ... Be7.
What's the game plan for White?
* Dislodge the errant e4 knight
(Bb3-c2, Nb1-d2, Nf3-d4, f2-f3)
and look for attacking possibilities
against Black's kingside.
* If possible, contain Black's
queenside counterplay via Be3
and Nb1-d2-b3.
What's the game plan for Black?
Position after 9 ... Be7.
* Seek queenside counterplay through
... c5 and ... d4. On occasion, ... d4 is
playable even without ... c5.
* Execute a propitious ... f6 or ... f5
in response to White's central/kingside
activities.
Silicon Suspire!?:
Position after 9 ... Be7.
10 Re1 Qd7 11 Nbd2 Nc5 12 Bc2 0-0
13 b4 Na4 14 Nb1 f5 15 Bxa4 bxa4
16 Nbd2 f4.
10 Nbd2 Nc5 11 Bc2 0-0 12 Nb3 Nxb3
13 axb3 f5 14 Qd3 Qe8 15 Be3 a5 16 Rfd1.
10 Bf4 0-0 11 Nd4 Qd7 12 Nd2 Nc5
13 Bc2 f6 14 Qh5 g6 15 Bxg6.
Position after 9 ... Be7.
10 Bc2 0-0 11 Nbd2 f5 12 Nd4 Qd7
13 Nxc6 Qxc6 14 Nb3 Bd7 15 Nd4 Qg6.
10 Nd4 Nxe5 11 Qe2 Bg4 12 f3 c5
13 fxg4 cxd4 14 cxd4 Nc6 15 Qe3 0-0
16 Rf5 Nb4.
10 a4 Nc5 11 Bc2 0-0 12 axb5 axb5
13 Rxa8 Qxa8 14 Be3 Ne4 15 Qd3 f5
16 Bb3 Na5.
Position after 9 ... Be7.
10 Be3 0-0 11 Nbd2 Nc5 12 Bc2 Nd7
13 Re1 Bg4 14 Bf4 Re8 15 Qb1 h6 16 b4.
10 Qe2 Qd7 11 Bc2 0-0 12 Nd4 f5
13 f3 Nc5 14 b4 Nb7 15 a3 Nxd4 16 cxd4.
10 a3 0-0 11 Nbd2 Qd7 12 Nxe4 dxe4
13 Qxd7 Bxd7 14 Nd2 e3 15 Nf3 exf2+
16 Kxf2 Rad8 17 Be3 a5.
10 Qe1 0-0 11 Bc2 Qd7 12 Bxe4 dxe4
13 Qxe4 Rad8 14 Nbd2 Bd5 15 Qe3 Qg4.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RUY LOPEZ
Ruy Lopez: Risible Retreat?
Ruy Lopez (Marshall Gambit): Devious Devising Daze
Ruy Lopez (Open Variation): Edenic Entrenchment!?
Ruy Lopez (Marshall Gambit): Devious Devising Daze
Position after 8 ... d5
9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6
12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3
15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5
21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4
25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 Line
What's the Game Plan for Black?
Position after 8 ... d5
9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6
12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3
15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5
21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4
25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 Line
* Sacrifice the e5 pawn in return for:
(i) an attack along the dark squares
(12 ... Bd6, 13 ... Qh4).
(ii) an attack along the light squares
(14 ... Qh3, 15 ... Bg4).
(iii) an open e-file (16 ... Rae8).
What's the game plan for White?
Position after 8 ... d5
9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6
12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3
15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5
21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4
25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 Line
* Accept the proffered pawn (10 Nxe5).
* Prevent Black's dark- and light-squared
threats by 14 g3 and 16 Qd3 respectively.
* Promptly mobilize the queenside
(15 Be3, 17 Nd2).
* Liberate the a1 rook by opening up the
a-file (18 a4, 19 axb5).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RUY LOPEZ
Ruy Lopez: Risible Retreat?
Ruy Lopez (Open Variation): Edenic Entrenchment!?
Center Counter: Dancing Queen Delight
Position after 2 ... Qxd5
3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bc4 Bg4
7 h3 Bh5 8 Bd2 e6 9 Qe2 Bb4 10 a3 Nbd7
11 O-O-O Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Qc7 13 g4 Bg6
14 Ne5 Nd5 15 Bd2 O-O-O Line
What's the game plan for White?
* Control the center, starting with 3 Nc3
and d2-d4.
* Attain the e5 outpost by Ng1-f3-e5 and
consolidate it according to the dictates
of the position. Some common buttress-
ing maneuvers are: f2-f4, Bc1-f4, Rf1-e1,
and Qd1-e2.
* Use the outpost to seek attacking
opportunities against Black's kingside/
queenside.
* Aim for a timely d5 central break.
This advance gains space in the center
and encroaches on Black's position.
Position after 2 ... Qxd5
3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bc4 Bg4
7 h3 Bh5 8 Bd2 e6 9 Qe2 Bb4 10 a3 Nbd7
11 O-O-O Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Qc7 13 g4 Bg6
14 Ne5 Nd5 15 Bd2 O-O-O Line
What's the game plan for Black?
* Lessen White's central preponderance by
pinning the c3 and f3 knights with the Queen
and c8 bishop respectively. Once they are
nailed down to those squares, the knights
can no longer influence central affairs.
* Utilize the c8 bishop not only to
pressurize the d1-h5 diagonal but also to
contend for the b1-h7 and h1-a8 diagonals.
* Strengthen d5 through ... c7-c6
and ... e7-e6 so as to cushion it against
White's prospective d5 break. In some lines,
Nf6-d5 is used to hold White up in the center.
* Challenge White's occupation of e5.
Usually, Nbd7 initiates pressure against the
outpost. The Queen then weighs in on the
matter from a5 or c7, aided by ... Bd6.
* Use the half open d-file to gain
central play. In some variations, Black
castles long and subsequently uses the
d8 rook to bear down on this file.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Pawn Majority Parade!
Position after 15 f3.
Since White has a queenside pawn majority
and space advantage, his ultimate aim is
to advance and create a passed pawn on
that wing.
Silicon Suspire!?:
Position after 15 f3.
15 ... Rfd8 16 Bd3 Kf8 17 Rhe1 h5
18 a4 h4 19 Ne4 Ke7 20 Nxf6 Kxf6
21 a5 d5.
15 ... Rfc8 16 Nb5 Ne8 17 Bd3 h5
18 Rhc1 h4 19 Ke3 d5 20 c5 Kf8
21 a4 bxc5.
15 ... d6 16 a4 Rfb8 17 a5 d5
18 c5 bxc5 19 dxc5 a6 20 Na4 Bc6
21 Nb6 Ra7 22 Re1.
15 ... h5 16 Nb5 Bc6 17 Nd6 Ne8
18 Nxe8 Rfxe8 19 a4 Bb7 20 a5 d5
21 c5 bxc5. 
Position after 15 f3.
15 ... Rfb8 16 Bd3 Rd8 17 Rhe1 Kf8
18 a4 h5 19 a5 d5 20 c5 bxc5.
15 ... h6 16 Bd3 d6 17 a4 Rfd8
18 Rhe1 Kf8 19 a5 d5 20 c5 bxc5
21 dxc5 d4 22 Ne4.
15 ... Bc6 16 Bd3 Rfd8 17 Rhb1 Rac8
18 a4 Kf8 19 Nb5 Bxb5 20 axb5 d5
21 c5 Rc7.
15 ... d5 16 c5 bxc5 17 dxc5 a6
18 Bd3 e5 19 Rhe1 Rfe8 20 a4 d4
21 Ne2 Rac8 22 Ng3.
White to move:
White’s queenside space advantage and
c-file domination call for an attack on
the weakened b6 and a4 pawns.
Nonetheless, the d7 bishop is covering a4.
It’s also protecting b6 by preventing Rc6.
It’s therefore logical for White to eliminate
this good defensive bishop by offering his
own bad one: 1 Bb5!
Following the inevitable exchange, White
will play Rc6 and Qb5 to expose the Black
position to significant pressure.
White to move:
1 Qxb8 is obvious because after 1 … Rxb8 2 Rc1
followed by 3 Rc7, White’s rook is powerfully
placed on the only open file.
