49. Møller Variation (5...Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3)
The Møller Variation develops the bishop to c5 at once on move 5. White replies with c3, b5, Bb3 and the central break d4, taking possession of the key squares.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.d4 Bb6 9.a4 Bg4 10.Be3
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White takes the centre and opens the diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop. In the Ruy Lopez this pawn will often be at the heart of the fight: Black will attack it with ...Nf6 and, in the Open Variation, will even capture it with ...Nxe4.
- 1...e5 – Black answers symmetrically: it contests d4 and f4, prevents e4-e5 and frees the f8-bishop. From here White will build the whole Ruy Lopez on pressure against this pawn.
- 2.Nf3 – Develops the knight with a direct attack on the e5 pawn, which now has to be defended. The knight also prepares kingside castling and supports a future d2-d4 push.
- 2...Nc6 – Defends e5 while developing a piece and controlling d4. This very knight, the only defender of e5, will be the target of White's next move.
- 3.Bb5 – The Ruy Lopez: the bishop attacks the c6-knight, the defender of e5. There is no immediate threat yet (Bxc6 dxc6 Nxe5 Qd4 regains the pawn), but the pressure on c6 will last throughout the opening.
- 3...a6 – Morphy's move: it asks the bishop to decide right away. After 4.Ba4 Black can break the pin with ...b5 whenever it likes; after 4.Bxc6 it gets the bishop pair.
- 4.Ba4 – The bishop retreats but keeps the pressure on c6: the threat of Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 will come back once White has castled. Black can break the diagonal with ...b5 whenever it wants.
- 4...Nf6 – Develops the knight attacking e4. This is the main move: it leads to the Closed Ruy Lopez with ...Be7 or to the Open Variation with ...Nxe4.
- 5.O-O – Castles without defending e4: if Black takes it with ...Nxe4, White regains it with Re1 or d4, exploiting the black king still in the centre.
- 5...Bc5 – The Møller Variation: the bishop goes straight to c5, towards f2. White will gain time with c3 and d4.
- 6.c3 – Against the Møller White prepares d4, which will attack the c5-bishop and conquer the centre.
- 6...b5 – Black drives the bishop back before d4 arrives.
- 7.Bb3 – The bishop retreats to the a2-g8 diagonal.
- 7...d6 – In the Neo-Arkhangelsk Black reinforces e5 and frees the c8-bishop, which however is not yet on b7 defending the a8-rook.
- 8.d4 – With the bishop already on b3, d4 occupies the centre and drives back the c5-bishop.
- 8...Bb6 – The bishop retreats to b6: from the a7-g1 diagonal it presses on d4 together with the c6-knight.
- 9.a4 – Attacks b5: without a bishop on b7, the a8-rook is undefended and axb5 becomes a threat.
- 9...Bg4 – The bishop pins the f3-knight, one of the defenders of d4, and increases the pressure in the centre.
- 10.Be3 – The bishop reinforces d4 and opposes the b6-bishop.
How to exploit the position
White has the d4-e4 centre and the a4 lever; Black presses on d4 with bishops and knight.
- Open the a-file with axb5 axb5 and exchange the rooks: the b5 pawn becomes weak.
- Ask the g4-bishop to decide with h3.
- Push d5 to chase the c6-knight and close the diagonal of the b6-bishop.
- Nbd2 and Qd3 complete development and reinforce the centre.
Master tips
The pawn centre beats early pieces
After 5...Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.d4 Bb6, push 9.a4! putting b5 under pressure before Black can castle.