Rubinstein Variation 3...dxe4
The universal stronghold against 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2: solid and free of weaknesses
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 b6 11.Qe2 Bb7 12.Rad1 Qc7
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White takes the center with the pawn and frees the Queen and the f1 Bishop. Against 1.e4 this course answers with the French Defense, which prepares an immediate attack on the e4 pawn.
- 1...e6 – The French Defense: the e6 pawn prepares ...d5 and supports it, so after exd5 Black can recapture with a pawn. The price is the c8 Bishop, shut in behind the e6-d5 chain.
- 2.d4 – White brings the d-pawn alongside e4 and builds the classical center: neither pawn is attacked yet and White gains space.
- 2...d5 – Black attacks e4 at once. White must choose: defend it (Nc3 or Nd2), push it (e5) or exchange it (exd5). Each choice leads to one of the course's chapters.
- 3.Nc3 – White defends e4 by developing the Knight toward the center: it is the most ambitious choice, but the Knight on c3 can be pinned by ...Bb4.
- 3...dxe4 – Rubinstein Variation: Black gives up the center in exchange for easy development and a structure without weaknesses.
- 4.Nxe4 – White recaptures: it has the d4 pawn and a central Knight on e4; Black must develop without conceding more space.
- 4...Nd7 – Prepares ...Ngf6: after Nxf6+ Black will recapture with the Knight, without doubled pawns on the kingside.
- 5.Nf3 – Natural development: the Knight defends d4 and prepares Bd3 and castling.
- 5...Ngf6 – The Knight challenges the e4 Knight: Black seeks exchanges to lighten the position and gain space.
- 6.Nxf6+ – White trades so as not to lose time with a retreat and to take away one of Black's developing pieces.
- 6...Nxf6 – Knight recapture: the pawns stay healthy and the f6 Knight defends h7 and controls d5 and e4.
- 7.Bd3 – The Bishop aims at h7 and prepares castling; d4 is defended by the f3 Knight and the Queen.
- 7...c5 – The liberating lever: Black attacks d4 before White can support it with c3 and prepares the development of the f8 Bishop.
- 8.dxc5 – White trades so as not to be left with an isolated pawn on d4 after ...cxd4.
- 8...Bxc5 – Recapture with development: the Bishop settles actively on c5 and aims at f2. Symmetrical structure and very active black pieces.
- 9.O-O – White castles: symmetrical structure, but its lead in development is minimal.
- 9...O-O – Black castles too: only the c8 Bishop remains to be developed, and it will come out on b7.
- 10.Bg5 – The Bishop pins the f6 Knight against the Queen: with Bxf6 White would like to ruin the pawns of Black's castled position or take away a defender of h7.
- 10...b6 – Prepares ...Bb7: the c8 Bishop finds the long diagonal, the best square in the Rubinstein.
- 11.Qe2 – The Queen develops and connects the Rooks; from e2 it supports a future Ne5 and the e-file.
- 11...Bb7 – The Bishop enters the long diagonal and hits the f3 Knight, the only minor piece next to the white King.
- 12.Rad1 – The Rook occupies the open d-file, on the same line as the black Queen: White prepares Ne5 or Bxf6.
- 12...Qc7 – The Queen leaves the d-file of the white Rook and frees the f6 Knight from the pin; from c7 it also aims at h2.
How to exploit the position
Symmetrical, balanced position: Black has no weaknesses, the b7 Bishop is on the long diagonal and the Rooks are ready for the c- and d-files.
- Contest the d-file with ...Rad8 or ...Rfd8 and trade the heavy pieces.
- With ...Be7 cover the f6 Knight: if Bxf6 you recapture with the Bishop without ruining the castled position.
- The b7 Bishop aims at the f3 Knight, the only minor piece defending the white King: if it moves, g2 and h2 become targets.
- Against the Ne5 jump answer with ...Bd6 to trade it or with ...Nd5 to centralize the Knight.
Master tips
The c8 Bishop finds a home on b7
In the Rubinstein Black has only one problem: the c8 Bishop. With ...b6 and ...Bb7 it becomes one of its best pieces.