Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez opening is a variant of chess. It arises after the moves

1 e2- e4 e7 - e5 2 Sg1 -f3 Sb8 - c6 3 Lf1 b5 - a7 - a6 4 Lb5xc6 d7xc6

And is classified in the ECO codes C68 - C69 below.

The main idea of White is the formation of a peasant majority on the kingside with simultaneous devaluation of the black majority on the queenside (double pawn on the c-file ). After the exchange of the white d-pawn against the black e-pawn endgame for the pure white would usually won.

The exchange variation was mainly influenced by the work of two world champion Emanuel Lasker and Bobby Fischer. She was known in the 19th century, but more important, they did not arrive until after the game Lasker - Tarrasch in the World Cup competition in 1908, in the White could exploit the small advantage of the better pawn structure in the endgame. But Lasker could not change the general opinion by the fact that the black bishop pair represents a more than adequate compensation for the detriment development and the deterioration of the pawn structure. Fischer played the exchange variation at the Chess Olympiad 1966 in Havana three times against strong opponents, ushering in a renaissance of the exchange variation.

Variants

The main variation is 5 0-0. Then Black has the following options:

• 5 ... f6 f7 - 6 d2 -d4 and now 6 ... e5xd4 or 6 ... Bc8 - g4
• 5 ... Qd8 - d6 prepares the large castling and subsequent attack by f7 - f6 Bauer, g7- g5 and h7 - h5. 6 Nb1 -a3 is the most active response. It threatens Sa 3 - c4 with double attack on the lady d6 and e5 the farmers. 6 ... b7 - b5 this prevents it, but it provides attack lever against the original planned black castling position on the queenside. Black would have to make other arrangements with c6 - c5 and Bc8 - b7.
• 5 ... Bf8 - d6
• 5 ... Bc8 - g4 6 h2 h3 h7 - h5!
• 5 ... Ng8 - e7
• 5 ... Qd8 - f6

Rare are 5 d2 -d4, as it is still at Lasker eg in Lasker - Capablanca, St. Petersburg in 1914 was usual, 5th Nb1 - c3 and d2 -d3 played 5. 5 Sf3xe5 is considered inferior, because black back wins by 5 ... Qd8 -d4, with double attack on the Springer e5 and e4 the farmers, the farmers and then is at least balanced.

The exchange variation can be 5 0-0 Bf8 - e7 delayed with the sequence of moves 3 ... a6 a7 - 4 Bb5 -a4 Ng8 - f6 by 5 La4xc6 or only 6 La4xc6 happens. White loses a tempo, in return, the black pieces are placed Nf6 and Be7 unfavorable.