44. Modern Steinitz: Main Line (5.c3 Bd7)
The Modern Steinitz (3...a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 Bd7 6.d4) is much more solid than the classical one because Black keeps the ...b5 option. White imposes its pawn centre and develops harmoniously with Nbd2.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 Bd7 6.d4 g6 7.O-O Bg7 8.Re1 Nge7 9.Bg5
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...d6 – The Modern Steinitz: with ...a6 already inserted, Black can break the pin with ...b5 whenever it wants. The d6 pawn supports e5.
- 5.c3 – Prepares d4 and gives the bishop the retreat to c2.
- 5...Bd7 – Releases the pin on the c6-knight before d4 exploits it.
- 6.d4 – White occupies the centre with the support of c3.
- 6...g6 – Black prepares the fianchetto: the bishop on g7 will support e5.
- 7.O-O – With the d4-e4 centre already stable, White castles before deciding between d5, Re1 and Nbd2.
- 7...Bg7 – The bishop completes the fianchetto on g7: it supports e5 and presses on d4 in case of ...exd4.
- 8.Re1 – The rook goes to e1 to defend e4 and frees f1 for the knight, which can play Nbd2-f1.
- 8...Nge7 – The knight goes to e7 to leave the g7-bishop's diagonal free and the f-pawn free for ...f6 or ...f5.
- 9.Bg5 – The bishop attacks the e7-knight, pinned to the queen, and forces Black to play ...h6 or ...f6, which weaken the kingside.
How to exploit the position
White has the d4-e4 centre and more space; Black is solid but a bit cramped.
- After ...h6 or ...f6 exploit the weakened squares: the bishop returns to e3 and the queen goes to d2.
- Qd2 and Bh6 exchange the g7-bishop, the black king's best defender.
- Bb3 aims at f7 and supports d5.
- Push d5 to gain space when the c6-knight has no good squares.
Master tips
Preserving the d4-e4 centre
After 5.c3 Bd7 6.d4 g6 7.O-O Bg7 8.Re1, keep the pawn pair firm.