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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
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Ruy Lopez |
 
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4. Nc3
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Swiftly turning to a Four Knights game. Solid on both sides. |
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4... Bb4 5. O-O Bxc3
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Black chooses the Bishop for Knight exchange, doubling whites c pawn. However, ultimately, will this diminish his development? |
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6. dxc3
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The dxc3 option, rather than bxc3 opens the file for white's Queen. |
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6... Nxe4
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Currently, it seems black has stronger position however, and gains a pawn. |
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7. Be3 a6
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The late defense of the Ruy Lopez opening may have opened black up a bit more than he wished. |
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8. Ba4 d6
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Also a late move, perhaps would have been stronger played earlier, say 6.. d6. However, black retains material advantage, but at what cost? |
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9. Qd5
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The Queen steps forth. Many may assume this is far too early to bring the Queen into play, however since it forces black to defend the e4 Knight, and gives white the opportunity to open up black's Queenside, it is indeed a strong move. |
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9... Nf6 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Qxc6+
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And white regains the gambit pawn, with distinct positional advantage. |
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11... Bd7
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A solid defence (though forced) attacks white's Queen, while protecting the queenside Rook. |
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12. Qc4
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And time is ripe to pressure f7... |
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12... O-O 13. Nh4
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The obvious Kingside castle gives white an extra developmental move as middle-game gets into it's stride. |
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13... d5
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White's Queen is always going to be under pressure, and there is a danger it's early development role will negate the extra moves he has gained. |
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14. Qb3 Be6
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Black is coming to the fore with clear strength of strategy. He understands the vulnerability of white's Queen, and while he himself develops, white is forced again to adjust his Queen's position... |
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15. Qb7 Rb8
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It may be that black is almost too focussed on attacking white's Queen to notice that White has a strategy of his own... |
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16. Qxa6 Rxb2 17. Bc5
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White places black firmly back on the back foot. |
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17... Re8 18. Qe2 e4 19. Bd4
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This is where white's early development and attack of black's queenside becomes obvious. Though he has doubled pawns, this may work to white's advantage. |
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19... c5 20. Bxc5
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And the result is white gains a pawn. |
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20... Bg4
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Black renews focus on white's Queen, as both players at this stage consider endgame strategy, in what turns out to be a cat-and-mouse dogfight! |
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21. Qe3 Rxc2
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Black regains the lost pawn, however perhaps white considered this pawn already lost? |
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