52. Positional Schliemann with 4.d3
If you want to avoid the wild complications of the Schliemann, 4.d3 is the perfect weapon: it protects e4, keeps control of the centre and leaves Black with the weaknesses created by the ...f5 push.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.O-O Bc5 7.Nc3 d6 8.Bg5 O-O 9.Nd5
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...f5 – The Schliemann Gambit: Black attacks e4 at once and opens the f-file. It is aggressive, but it weakens the e8-h5 diagonal and the kingside.
- 4.d3 – A quieter variation: d3 defends e4 and leaves Black the choice of exchanging on e4.
- 4...fxe4 – Black exchanges on e4 and opens the f-file.
- 5.dxe4 – White recaptures and opens the d-file. Black has the f-file, but the e5 pawn is isolated from the rest of the structure.
- 5...Nf6 – After 5.dxe4 the black knight attacks e4, now defended only by the d1-queen: White must protect it.
- 6.O-O – White castles and puts the rook on f1 facing the f-file that Black has opened with ...fxe4.
- 6...Bc5 – The bishop goes to c5, towards f2, supported by the open f-file.
- 7.Nc3 – The c3-knight defends e4 and prepares Nd5, against the f6-knight.
- 7...d6 – Black supports e5, left without the f-pawn beside it, and opens the diagonal of the c8-bishop.
- 8.Bg5 – The bishop pins the f6-knight to the queen.
- 8...O-O – Black castles and the f8-rook aims down the f-file towards f2.
- 9.Nd5 – The knight attacks the pinned f6-knight: now it is attacked twice and Bxf6 will ruin the black kingside.
How to exploit the position
White has a solid position and pressure on the f6-knight; Black has the f-file and the active bishop on c5.
- Bxf6 followed by Nxf6+ or Qd3 ruins the structure of the black king.
- c3 and b4 chase the c5-bishop off the diagonal towards f2.
- Beware of shots on f2 such as ...Bxf2+: keep the king and the f1-rook coordinated.
- Qd3 and Rad1 control the light squares in the centre.
Master tips
Exploiting the weaknesses created by ...f5
After 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.O-O Bc5 7.Nc3 d6, the move 8.Bg5 pins the f6-knight.