Before We Start
Hello Chesslovers,
It's time to get very very serious now.
Until now, we have been discussing those variations in the Ruy Lopez which are now less encountered in real games. The reason being the continuous improvements that has taken place due to the hard work and dedication of great players and masters in this opening. Somehow, both sides was able to find refutations and there was a need for improvement. So, improvement has taken place.......
From now on Ruy Lopez will not be just fun!, it will be full concentration + tremendous brainstorming + very hard work + complete dedication + an open mind, and all these will generate fun in the end. Because at the end of the day, if you want to generate something of very high quality, you have to bind yourself with these parameters. Every chapters discussed from now on, will be the most adored variations in the Ruy Lopez and there is every possibility that you will turn up facing one of them everytime you go for this opening.
For those, whose chess ideas are like parts of their body they are reluctant to give up, it's time to change your views because now you will come to know what "keeping an open mind" means.
My first and last warning to you will be "do not try to memorize moves". Remember, when we study an opening, we do not study moves, but ideas.
Welcome, all of you, to the deepest and the most wonderful journey in the jungles of Ruy Lopez. Be serious.
The Ruy Lopez - Berlin Defence
We will start with the Berlin Defence, recognized by Black's third move, 3...Nf6. The Berlin Defence is an opening which demands that you should understand certain things first before going for further analysis:
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6
The Berlin Defence is one of Black's most solid and reliable ways of meeting the Ruy Lopez . Recently it has found its way into the repertoires of some of the world's leading young players, including Alexei Shirov and Vladimir Kramnik, while it has also been a long-time favourite of Britain's first grandmaster, Tony Miles . Being such a solid defence, there is the drawback that Black finds it difficult to create winning chances if White is content to play for a draw, but of Course, this accusation could be levelled at most black defences .
The Berlin Endgame
The main line of the Berlin Defence gives rise to an endgame after the moves 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 4 0-0 Nxe4 5 d4 Nd6 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 dxe5 Nf5 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8. After White's most flexible move, 9 Nc3, we reach the following position.
At first glance the pawn-structure seems to give White a persistent advantage. After all, White has a healthy 4-3 majority on the kingside, while Black should find it difficult to create a passed pawn from his own queenside majority, due to the doubled pawns. However, there are also some factors favouring Black. For example, White's advanced pawn on e5 presents Black with squares on f5 and d5 . The e5pawn could actually become quite weak if it's not well supported. Another plus for Black is that he possesses the bishop-pair.
In fact, White's best chance for an advantage lies in the slightly vulnerable position of the black king, which has lost the right to castle and prevents the black rooks from connecting. White must play actively and attempt to exploit this temporary disharmony in the black position in order to create a concrete positional or tactical advantage.
The ...Bb4xc3 Exchange
This surprising exchange is one of Black 's most potent weapons in the Berlin Endgame. At first sight, it appears a little strange just to give away the advantage of the bishop-pair, but following the trade, the presence of opposite-coloured bishops considerably eases Black's defensive task. Light-square control on the kingside makes it very difficult for White to mobilize his pawn majority, while it's also possible that White's pawns can end up as targets .
White Plays Ng5xBe6
Similarly, this exchange is one of White's weapons
Play continued 12 Nxe6! fxe6 13 Ne4 and we can see that the exchange has favoured White. Black no longer possesses the bishop-pair, and White can still advance his pawn majority on the kingside. Another point is that White's e5-pawn is less vulnerable, as Black no longer has the long-term option of ...Ke6 to attack it.
The Main Ideas
Since Black will find it difficult to connect rooks, he often tries to activate them on their original squares. In such cases it's common for Black to play ...a5-a4 to activate his a8-rook. Sometimes Black may even play ...h5-h4 to give the h8-rook some scope. It could then go to h5, where it could attack the e5-pawn. Black normally develops his bishops on e6 and b4 and often leaves the e7-square free for a possible knight retreat.
White's main plan will be to try to activate his kingside pawn majority. Hence the need for moves such as h3, which supports a later g4. The f3-knight will want to move so White can create a pawn roller with f4. Normally the bishop goes to b2, but on occasions it can also go to f4, perhaps dropping back to g3 or h2, from where it can support White's pawn advance.
The structural patterns and the main ideas leading to them are the most important thing in the Berlin Defence to understand.
Next post onwards, we will study different variation in this defence. And that will be a very very deep study indeed!! Preparation should be at it's best. Otherwise, refutations will come from Black side pretty fast.
Keep visiting and keep reading. We have just begun.
Thanks a lot. Enjoy !!
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