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Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game), Closed - Chigorin Variation (C96 - 98) ⎸Chess Openings for Tournament Players
For the theory of the Ruy Lopez watch this video on the basics: • Ruy Lopez - Ideas, Pri...
The Breyer Variation in depth - a positional approach by black: • Ruy Lopez - Breyer Var...
The Exchange Variation - the simple approach by white: • Ruy Lopez - Exchange V...
The Archangel Variation - black’s most aggressive line: • Ruy Lopez - Archangel ...
The Berlin Defense - Kramnik’s strongest weapon: • Ruy Lopez - Berlin Def...
The Chigorin Variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez is considered to be one of the best ways to challenge white after 3.Bb5, entering the Spanish Game or the Ruy Lopez. It was named after Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin (1850.-1908.), one of the early chess masters who helped develop the early theory. He was one of the strongest players at the time and he played two matches for the world championship title against Wilhelm Steinitz but he lost both times.
The Chigorin Variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez occurs after the moves:
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.O-O Be7 - now entering the Closed Ruy Lopez
6.Re1 b5
7.Bb3 O-O
8.c3 d6
9.h3 Na5
Na5 is the move which signifies the Chigorin. Other moves on move 9 for black are Nb8 (the Breyer Variation), Nd7 (the Keres defense), Bb7 (Flohr system) etc., but the Chigorin Variation with Na5 is by far the most heavily analyzed and most aggressive line for black. The main line theory goes up to move 20, or even more in depth if you ask some people, but whatever the exact move number, it’s one of those openings which you have to memorize, know by heart and understand in order to play.
The idea behind 9…Na5 is simple. Black is gaining a tempo on the b3 bishop, chasing it to c2, and he is preparing the move c5, a central break which was prevented by the knight being on c6. Once the knight moved to a5, c5 is the main continuation, after which both sides fight for central control.
The Chigorin Variation is (like most Ruy Lopez lines, especially closed ones) a very maneuvering, slow game. You will rarely see tactical tricks or piece sacrifices. In order to master the Chigorin you have to be patient and plan in advance. Learn how to position your pieces and where each one belongs, as well as learn how to devise a plan of attack on your opponent’s king. The best way to understand this line in the Closed Spanish game is by studying games of the strongest players who played it. Of course after you have learned the opening moves, theory and the reason behind it (at least up to move 17).
If you are unfamiliar with the basics of the Ruy Lopez check out the video I have linked above. It covers all the principles and moves leading up to move 9 at which the Chigorin Variation branches out.
Here are some very instructive Chigorin Variation games:
*Look at them over the board. That way you will get to know the nature of the position and you will be forced to think! Try to find your own middle game ideas.
Fischer vs Unzicker 1959
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2
Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nh2 Rad8 17. Qf3
Be6 18. Nhg4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 Qc6 20. g5 Nc4 21. Ng4 Bxg4
22. Qxg4 f6 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. a4 Nb6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Be3 Ra8
27. Red1 Kh8 28. b3 Bg7 29. Qh4 Bf6 30. Bg5 Bxg5 31. Qxg5 Rxa1
32. Rxa1 Nd7 33. Bd1 Nf6 34. Ra7 Qd6 35. Be2 Re7 36. Rxe7 Qxe7
37. Bxb5 Kg7 38. Be2 Qc7 39. Qe3 Qa5 40. g3 Qa3 41. Kg2 Qa5
42. Qd3 Qb6 43. Qc4 Qc6 44. Bd3 Qb6 45. b4 cxb4 46. cxb4 Ng4
47. Qc5 Qxc5 48. bxc5 Kf7 49. f4 Ke7 50. Kf3 Nf6 51. Bb5 Ke6
52. Bc4+ Ke7 53. c6 Ne8 54. fxe5 h6 55. Ke3 Nc7 56. Kd4 h5
57. Ke3 g5 58. Be2 h4 59. gxh4 gxh4 60. Bc4 Ne8 61. Kf4 Kd8
62. Kg4 Kc7 63. Bf7 Ng7 64. Kxh4 Kxc6 65. Kg5 1-0
Boleslavsky vs Keres 1953
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Rd8 13.Nf1 d5
14.exd5 exd4 15.cxd4 Nxd5 16.Qe2 Bb7 17.Ng3 cxd4 18.Nxd4 g6
19.Bh6 Bf6 20.Nb3 Nc4 21.Ne4 Bxb2 22.Nbc5 Bxa1 23.Rxa1 f5
24.Nxb7 Qxb7 25.Nc5 Qc6 26.Nd3 Nc3 27.Qe1 Qf6 28.f4 Ne4 29.Kh2
Qc3 30.Qb1 Ncd2 31.Qc1 Rxd3 32.Bxd3 Qxd3 33.Qc7 Nf3+ 0-1
Tal vs Korchnoi 1968
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2
Nc6 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Nf1 Be6 15. Ne3 Rad8 16. Qe2 c4 17. Nf5
Bxf5 18. exf5 Rfe8 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd2 Ne7
22. Ne4 Nd5 23. b3 Nxc3 24. Nxf6+ gxf6 25. Qe3 cxb3 26. Bxb3
Kh7 27. Rec1 b4 28. a3 e4 29. axb4 Rd3 30. Qe1 e3 31. Bc2 Rd2
32. fxe3 Ne2+ 33. Kh1 Ng3+ 34. Kg1 Re2 35. Qd1 Qb7 36. e4
R8xe4 0-1