6. Ruy Lopez - THE STEINITZ SYSTEM

In the main variation of the Ruy Lopez, White attempts to seize immediate control of the center, before undertaking ac­tion on the wing. Another line with equally good prospects for White begins in a more passive manner. White makes no effort to gain the center. Instead, he develops peacefully and soundly. The pacific development, however, is only a front for White's real intentions. All the while, White bides his time and appraises the opportunity to seize the center or to institute an attack against the opposing King.

This line arises as follows:

1. P-K4 P-K4         3 B-N5 P-QR3
2. N-KB3 N-QB3  4 B-R4 N-B3

5 P-Q3 . . . .

White directly defends the King Pawn. By not castling now, he reserves the option of castling later on either side, depend­ing on which way the game turns. Or he may remain with his King in the center of the board in some contingencies.

5 . . . . P-Q3

Black defends his King Pawn against the threat of 6 BxN, followed by NxP. In turn, Black now threatens 6 ... P-QN4; 7 B-N3, N-QR4, followed by the exchange of a Bishop for a Knight.

6 P-B3 . . . .

White creates an exit for the Bishop in the event it is at­tacked by the adverse Knight. Also, the Queen Bishop Pawn may serve as support for the future advance P-Q4.

1. . . . . B-K2

Black develops the Bishop to permit castling.

2. QN-Q2 . . . .

The beginning of a Knight maneuver (QN-Q2-B1-N3) to the King-side of the board where the Black King will most likely reside. This same maneuver was employed in the earlier variation of the Lopez, discussed in Chapter 4.

7 . . . . O-O

Whereas White can delay castling, Black finds it more diffi­cult to do so; he cannot undertake a constructive plan so long as his King remains in the center to obstruct the communica­tions between his forces. Moreover, Black believes he can thwart any undue aggression.

8 N-Bl . . . .

On the way to KN3.

8 . . . . P-QN4

Not only to drive the Bishop, but also to make future pros­pects for the White King on the Queen-side of the board haz­ardous.

9 B-B2 . . . .

Temporarily the Bishop goes into hiding. It expects to emerge later on by the advance of P-Q4 or by returning to QN3. 9 B-N3 now is met by 9 ... N-QR4; and, since the Bishop has a more promising future than the Knight, White has to retreat and lose time.

9 . . . . P-Q4

Black forces the play in the center so as to take the sting out of any contemplated adverse attack on the wing.

10         Q-K2 . . . .

White avoids the exchange of Queens, in the event Black swaps Pawns. White wishes to retain his Queen for prospective attacking chances. Incidentally, 10 PxP grants Black control of the center.

10 . . . . R-Kl

Black creates a retreat for the King Bishop at KB1 and in­directly defends the King Pawn in the event White exchanges Pawns.

11         P-KR3 . . . .

White aims to prevent the pin of his King Knight and also to set up a prop for a possible future King-side Pawn advance against the Black King.

12         . . . . PxP

Black opens the Queen file and an important diagonal on which his Queen Bishop can operate. Black is contemplating the maneuver . . . B-K3-B5.

12 PxP B-K3

In order to penetrate with 13 . . . B-B5 and drive the White Queen to what appears to be a less favorable post.

13 N-N5! . . . .

Practical Chess Openings * gives 13 B-Q2, instead of the text move. Black then obtains the superior game by ... B-B5. For the White Queen is driven to an awkward position.

The text move vacates the square KB3 for occupation by the Queen, in the event it is attacked. At KB3, the Queen is well posted and does not interfere with the mobility of the other forces.

13 . . . . B-B5

As good as any. If the Bishop retreats, 14 B-N3 is good. If the Bishop remains, 14 NxB gives White the advantage of the two Bishops.

1. Q-B3 P-R3
2. P-KR4! . . . .

The point of White's 13th. Black dare not capture the Knight and open the King Rook file. Thus, if 15 . . . PxN?; 16 PxP, N-R2; 17 Q-R5, Black is unable to prevent an incursion of the White men.

* Fine, R., Practical Chess Openings, N. Y., McKay.

Now White's prospects are superior. He threatens 16 N-Q2, or 16 N-K3 to exchange Knight for Bishop and break up Black's Pawn formation. In addition, there is the possibility of a King-side Pawn advance which should expose the Black King as a target.

Conclusions

In this slow line of the Ruy Lopez, favored and exploited by one time world champion W. Steinitz, White invariably ob­tains a deferred initiative. This takes the form of an assault against the King or seizure of the center with all that it por­tends, or both. Moreover, since the pattern of this line is sounder than that of the main line, the risk of error is cut to a minimum.

Chess Movie

DEATH OF "THE BLACK DEATH"

Essaying the variation which he refined and popularized, Wilhelm Steinitz (White) subdues English grandmaster Jo­seph Henry Blackburne, alias "the Black Death." The over­ture is on a peaceful note and turns suddenly when Steinitz castles long. London, 1876, is the scene of the play. The game begins with 1 P-K4, P-K4; 2 N-KB3, N-QB3; 3 B-N5, P-QRS; 4 B-R4, N-B3; 5 P-Q3, P-Q3; 6 P-B3, B-K2 (see diagram No.1).

1

Now follows 7 P-KR3, I O-O; 8 Q-K2, N-Kl. Blackburne hopes to advance his King Bishop Pawn and gain a measure of counterplay. Steinitz checks this ambition with 9 P-KN4 and Blackburne feints on the other wing with 9 . . . P-QN4. Steinitz retreats 10 B-B2.

2

 A wing development, 10 ... B-N2 is Blackburne's choice. He hopes for the opening of the long diagonal. Steinitz plays 11 QN-Q2, heading for KB5 or Q5, via B1. Blackburne plays 11 . . . Q-Q2, and there follows 12 N-B1. Black­burne plays 12 . . . N-Ql, heading for KB5.

3

 Both players advance their Knights on sched­ule: 13 N-K3, N-K3, and Steinitz enters the stra­tegic square, 14 N-B5. There follows: . . . P-N3; 15 Nx Bch. To all appearances, White has wasted five moves to swap a Bishop. But he has provoked a weakness in Black's camp.

4

Blackburne recaptures IS . . . QxN. Steinitz now sets out to exploit the weakness: 16 B-K3, N/l-N2; 17 O-O-O. This is the signal for action. With both monarchs on opposite sides of the board, it is a question of who gets there "first with the most!" White's attack, as we shall see, is much further ad­vanced than Black's.

5

Blackburne plays 17 . . . P-QB4, preparing to open avenues of ap­proach to the White King. Steinitz brazenly falls in line with 18 P-Q4. White enjoys the advantage of the Bishops. And Steinitz well knows that Bishops show up well in open positions.

6

Blackburne continues 18 . . . KPxP and Stein­itz recaptures 19 PxP. Intent upon storming the White King position by a Pawn majority, Blackburne advances 19 . . . P-B5. Stein­itz counters with 20 P-Q5, making room for his Bishop at Q4. Black retreats . . . N-B2.

7

Steinitz plays 21 Q-Q2. When his Bishop goes to Q4, he will penetrate on the diagonal. There isn't much that Black can do to re­pair his own King position, so he tries to reach the White King. There follows: 21 . . . P-QR4; 22 B-Q4, P-B3. How can White open the position?

8

Steinitz brings his Queen into position: 23 Q-R6. Blackburne ad­vances 23 ... P-N5. Steinitz follows with 24 P-N5, clear­ing the diagonal of his Bishop. Blackburne parries: 24 . . . P-B4. Steinitz enters the breach with 25 B-B6. Who would think the game is near­ly over?

9

 Blackburne plays 25 . . . Q-B2. Now fol­lows 26 PxP, PxP. Black's King-side barrier is being loosed from its hinges. White's Bishops are in posi­tion to administer the last rites. The Black monarch must give up the ghost beyond all peradventure of a doubt.

10

The stage is set for the finale. 27 P-N6 is the move. There follows . . . QxNP. (If 27 . . . PxP; 28 N-N5 spells finis.) 28 BxN and Blackburne resigns. He dare not capture the Bishop on account of R-N1, pinning the Queen, and so he cannot regain the piece lost.

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