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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation) (Read 61107 times)
PANFR
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #37 - 02/19/14 at 10:27:38
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White is better in the 6...Bh5 line, I think it can be archived as unsound.
One good idea (in the mainline) is Solak's plan with Nd2, Qe3!, Nf3 and Qe1, when it's actually white the one who attacks on the queenside, and this plan works even if Black delays 0-0-0 for a while.
There are also the ideas with Kf1, but I like Solak's plan best.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #36 - 02/14/14 at 10:00:24
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There is an article on this line in "dangerous weapons:the ruy lopez", it could be a good starting point if you're interested in this variation.
Declining with 7.d3 (which by the way seems to be a common reaction from surprised club players in my experience) gives black a very comfortable game after the standard f6-Bd6-c5 plan.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #35 - 02/14/14 at 08:01:07
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Does any one has any improvements for black on 5.......Bg4 6. h3 Bh5.I think so this line is not explored much..White could simply decline the sacrifice with d3 and play
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #34 - 09/02/11 at 09:30:59
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So why choose this system for Black?!?!

imo there are more efficient ways to fight against the Exchange Ruy as Black
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #33 - 09/01/11 at 12:26:49
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Claus Jensen wrote on 09/01/11 at 11:51:16:
Pavlovic recommends in his book "Fighting the Ruy Lopez"
5...Bd6 in the line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bd6

which was recommended to Pavlovic by Gligoric and also has been played regularly by Mark Hebden.


If now 6.d4 then exd4 7.Qxd4 f6 gives white a choice of different ideas:

1) Develop "quietly" Be3, Nbd2 after which Nc4 is an option
2) Aim for a quick e4-e5 break
3) Play c4 intending c5 to put pressure on the d6 bishop
4) Exchange dark squared bishops
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #32 - 09/01/11 at 11:51:16
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Pavlovic recommends in his book "Fighting the Ruy Lopez"
5...Bd6 in the line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bd6

which was recommended to Pavlovic by Gligoric and also has been played regularly by Mark Hebden.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #31 - 04/27/11 at 01:34:03
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dfan wrote on 04/26/11 at 15:57:37:
Markovich wrote on 04/25/11 at 20:35:08:
Recently I looked at 5...Ne7 and formed a fairly high opinion of it.  I've never played it, however.  Does anyone have any thoughts about it?

There's a fair amount on 5...Ne7 in Johnsen & Johannessen (it's their backup line).


Thanks.  Funny, I have that on my shelf.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #30 - 04/26/11 at 15:57:37
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Markovich wrote on 04/25/11 at 20:35:08:
Recently I looked at 5...Ne7 and formed a fairly high opinion of it.  I've never played it, however.  Does anyone have any thoughts about it?

There's a fair amount on 5...Ne7 in Johnsen & Johannessen (it's their backup line).
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #29 - 04/26/11 at 15:21:24
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OstapBender wrote on 04/26/11 at 15:00:21:
There's an interesting Van der Weide-Wells game from 2002 which continues 6.Nxe5 Qd4 7.Qh5.


That's quite a main line, about which there was a Yearbook article a couple of years ago.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #28 - 04/26/11 at 15:00:21
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Markovich wrote on 04/25/11 at 20:35:08:
Recently I looked at 5...Ne7 and formed a fairly high opinion of it.  I've never played it, however.  Does anyone have any thoughts about it?

There's an interesting Van der Weide-Wells game from 2002 which continues 6.Nxe5 Qd4 7.Qh5.
It was annotated by Kindermann at his chessgate training site:
http://chessgate.de/training/training_kindermann/training_kindermann.html
(although this link does not seem to be working at the moment)
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #27 - 04/25/11 at 20:35:08
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Recently I looked at 5...Ne7 and formed a fairly high opinion of it.  I've never played it, however.  Does anyone have any thoughts about it?
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #26 - 04/25/11 at 18:50:49
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5......Qd6 used to be used quite a bit in the 80's.  I use it today when I face the exchange.  It has a solid positional base and puts white out of book rather quickly if he is a younger player or doesnt know much theory.  In most texts today it is listed in the sidelines portion.

Soltis wrote a well annotated book called Winning With the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation.  He devotes several pages to it, attributing the idea to World Championship tier Bronstein.

After 6. d3 Blacks basic plan is to stop white from playing d4.  He can do this in several differense methods.  And once white does get in d4, black needs to setup to take on e5 with pieces and not the f pawn.  The line is very easy for black to play and most people playing white are not prepared for it. 

5.......Bg4 is much more heavy in theory and does not give black real counterchances unless he wants to muddle in the lines with 6. h3 Bh5. 

People playing the white side of the Spanish Exchange are tricky opponents and you should not write off what they are trying to do in the opening.  If black gets inactive he is absolutely toast.  White can force you to trade down into an awful ending. 

I learned endings playing through the pawn and king position after the bishop exchange on c6.  I suggest you try this against a computer program with all the pieces removed and just the pawns and kings from both sides of the board.  Very instructive ending.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #25 - 03/07/11 at 18:50:29
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5...Qd6 is an old main line.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #24 - 03/07/11 at 18:43:37
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What about 5... Qd6!? has anyone seen this variation played at the high levels before? It is going on now in a game between IM Michael Brooks and GM Gregory Kaidanov. Kaidanov has rather quickly achieved a winning position.

Game:
6. d3 Ne7 7. Nbd2 Ng6 8. Nc4 Qe6 9. Ng5 Qf6 10. d4 Be7 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. f4 Nc4 13. b3 Bg4 14. Qd3 Be2 15. Qxe2 Qxd4 16. Kh1 Qxa1 17. Qxc4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 0-0-0 19. c3 Qxa2 20. Bf4 Rd7 21. h3 Qa5 22. Qe2 Qxc3 23. Rf3 Qd4 24. Kh2 Re8 25. e5 Kb8 26. Bg3 a5 27. Qe1 b6 28. Qf1  Qd5 still going but not for long.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #23 - 03/05/11 at 04:16:05
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Can anyone provide any insight or updates on the Exchange line recommended in Dangerous Weapons:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Be7

Any recent developments?
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #22 - 02/11/11 at 14:35:57
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I like the Panczyk & Ilzcuk book (I don't have Kinderman, but his book on the Leningrad Dutch is quite good), but if you are looking for lots of prose explaining the ideas and concepts, you'll be disappointed since there is very little explanation, aside from their summations of the lines at the end of each chapter.  Their coverage is quite thorough, however.  I see that Andrew Martin has a DVD on the Exchange, but I don't have it and haven't seen any reviews of it yet.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #21 - 02/11/11 at 09:14:22
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Hansen prefered Panczyk & Ilzcuk to Kindermann: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen78.pdf
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #20 - 02/11/11 at 08:46:00
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Carld wrote on 02/10/11 at 03:08:55:
Does anyone know how Panczyk's book compares with Andrew Kinsman's Spanish Exchange? I have Kinsman's book already and have Panczyk's ordered, but I was wondering if once was noticeably better than the other.


Kindermann's is worthy.

http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1109832373/4
  
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Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #19 - 02/11/11 at 05:55:45
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There's also Ivanchuk's new idea 5...f6 6.d4 Bg4 7.c3 Qe7!?, which he used to defeat Caruana with the black pieces in Gibraltar.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #18 - 02/10/11 at 03:08:55
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Does anyone know how Panczyk's book compares with Andrew Kinsman's Spanish Exchange? I have Kinsman's book already and have Panczyk's ordered, but I was wondering if once was noticeably better than the other.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #17 - 02/08/11 at 14:57:06
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If one wants to have some offbeat idea in the exchange variation then you really have to try out :
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6 (At this point most white players are already out of book. Only players whom specifically prepared for me as opponent, know the next most critical move.) 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qf3 h5 with an extremely complicated battle ahead. I've played already 6 official games with this position, scoring a decent 2,5/6 (including 3 draws against FMs). Until today I've not seen any clear refutation of the system.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #16 - 02/08/11 at 12:13:31
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I think the old line was 7...f6 and now they are going 7...Qh4 followed by 8...f6 or 8...Bd6. Not sure which is best. Anyhow its the move 7...Qh4 which caused a mini-revival. I think even Magnus Carlsen gave this line a bash so its not a complete junk line. Theoretically maybe the compensation is not completely sufficient but there are practical and psychological problems for players of White used to the easy life.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #15 - 02/07/11 at 15:14:56
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Keano wrote on 02/04/11 at 09:17:44:
If Black is really looking to liven things up he could do worse than 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5!?

Theoretically Whites best now is to take the pawn 6.g4 Bg6 7.Nxe5 but after 7....Qh4 followed by ...f6 I think Black is getting a complicated game. Theoretically the compensation might not be sufficient but it leads to the type of game many Spanish Exchange fans will not enjoy.


That is interesting. I always thought that 7. ... Bd6 gave Black sufficient compensation.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #14 - 02/04/11 at 09:17:44
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If Black is really looking to liven things up he could do worse than 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5!?

Theoretically Whites best now is to take the pawn 6.g4 Bg6 7.Nxe5 but after 7....Qh4 followed by ...f6 I think Black is getting a complicated game. Theoretically the compensation might not be sufficient but it leads to the type of game many Spanish Exchange fans will not enjoy.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #13 - 02/03/11 at 15:44:36
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SWJediknight wrote on 02/03/11 at 13:46:50:
(White has the bishop pair in return for doubled pawns in front of the king)

How is that possible after 4.Bxc6 ? I think you mean White has slight central domination.
Anyhow, if Black wants something ultrasharp, there is 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 7.d3 Bd6 8.Nbd2 Be6 with the idea of a pawn storm. It's very tricky though, as I know from my own experience.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #12 - 02/03/11 at 13:46:50
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I must admit to not being particularly "booked up" on that line, but Gary Lane gives 8...Bxf3 9 Qxf3 Qxf3 10 gxf3 Bd6 11 Nd2 Ne7 as equal (White has the bishop pair in return for doubled pawns in front of the king) while Black can also consider 8...Nge7 and 9...Ng6.  White's main alternative is 8.Nbd2 preventing the doubling of the kingside pawns when Black usually goes for ...Nge7-g6.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #11 - 02/03/11 at 13:21:46
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Thanks for this.

I've been playing the f6 variation for years and years and have only recently become interested in the Neo-Steinitz.

I'm, not an expert, but isn't white slightly better in this line after 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 7.d3 Qf6 8.Be3?

  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #10 - 02/03/11 at 12:48:15
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NeverGiveUp wrote on 02/02/11 at 12:02:50:
In fact black does not have an easy life after 5.0-0(!) (Fisher, Timman) and must know very well what he's doing.

I've been playing the exchange RL for years with black now and have a solid system against it that has been played by Spassky and Kortschnoi.
...        

I would've thought that since you like the sharp line 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5, meeting 4.Bxc6 with 4...dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 would be more consistent- it's a more definitely sound version of the same idea and as far as I'm aware White is struggling to prove anything significant against it.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #9 - 02/02/11 at 12:15:52
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NeverGiveUp wrote on 02/02/11 at 12:02:50:
In fact black does not have an easy life after 5.0-0(!) (Fisher, Timman) and must know very well what he's doing.


This applies to just about any opening variation. If you aren't familiar with a variation then naturally you will not play as well when it appears on the board, compared to a variation you are familiar with. Fortunately, Black has more than one good answer to the Exchange.

Quote:
I've been playing the exchange RL for years with black now and have a solid system against it that has been played by Spassky and Kortschnoi. It's 5. ... f6 6.d4 ed4: 7.Nd4: c5 8.Nb3 Qd1: 9.Rd1: Bg4 10.f3 Be6, with the neat point 11.Bf4 c4! 12.Nd4 0-0-0 and white can't take on e6 because the knight is pinned. After 13.Nc3 the bishop goes to f7 and black is doing fine. Another point is 12.Na5 Bc5+ (hence Bg4 first to provoke f3) 13.Kf1 Bb6 with equality.


This is the most popular reply to 5.0-0 so it isn't surprising that Black equalises in this variation. Personally I quite like 5...Bg4 and 5...Be7. The latter was recommended in 'Dangerous Weapons' and White has been struggling to show anything for some time.
   
Quote:
Fashionable nowadays is the retreat 8.Ne2!? where black is OK if he knows what to do and should play 8. ... Bd7 9.Nbc3 0-0-0, and  go for the setup Re8, Bc6, b6 followed by Ng8-e7-g6-e5 and Bd6. Spasski played this against Fisher in their Yugoslavia match.


I guess you meant to include the moves 8...Qd1 9.Rd1. Here's the Fischer-Spassky game:

[Event "St Stefan/Belgrade m"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C69"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8.
Ne2 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bd7 10. Nbc3 Ne7 11. Bf4 O-O-O 12. Rd2 Ng6 13. Bg3 Ne5 14.
Bxe5 fxe5 15. Rad1 c4 16. Kf1 Bc5 17. Ng1 Bg4 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.
Nce2 Ke7 21. Ke1 b5 22. c3 Kf6 23. h3 Bh5 24. Ng3 Bf7 25. Nf3 g6 26. Nf1 g5 27.
Ke2 Bg6 28. N3d2 h5 29. Ne3 c6 30. Kf3 Bf7 31. Ndf1 a5 32. Ke2 Be6 33. Ng3 Kg6
34. a3 Bf7 35. Ngf5 Be6 36. Kf3 Bd7 37. Kg3 Be6 38. h4 Bd7 39. hxg5 Kxg5 40.
Nh4 Bg4 41. Nxg4 hxg4 42. Nf5 a4 43. f3 gxf3 44. Kxf3 Bf8 45. Ne3 Kh5 46. Nf5
Bc5 1/2-1/2

The game is annotated in Mega Database by Ftacnik.

Quote:
The exchange variation is quite drawish I'm afraid. However if you're a good endgame player you might outplay your opponent, for instance by getting rid of the doubled pawns while retaining the bishop's pair. It is very important to stick to the bishops' pair in most variations, because otherwise white has the better pawn structure (kings side majority) and black has nothing to offset this. Sometimes black can let go of the bishop's pair if he has resolved his doubled pawns or has other compensation for his slightly weakened pawn structure like the more active pieces. 


I disagree. It's easier to win from an equal position than from a clearly inferior one, and the stronger player will almost always win. If your opponent draws in an equal endgame, then there's no reason to think that you would have undoubtedly beaten them in a sharper, more unbalanced position.

Additionally, if Black can create counterplay in the Exchange then his position tends to get better and better due to the increasing strength of the bishop pair as the position opens up. Lasker-Steinitz, Montreal 1894, Bragin-Frolov, Orel 1997 and Timman-Korchnoi, Leuwaarden 1976, are all good examples of this.

Of course, Black has several good options if he wishes to avoid an endgame directly out of the opening, including 5...Ne7, 5...Be7 and 5...Bd6 to name a few.


  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #8 - 02/02/11 at 12:02:50
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In fact black does not have an easy life after 5.0-0(!) (Fisher, Timman) and must know very well what he's doing.

I've been playing the exchange RL for years with black now and have a solid system against it that has been played by Spassky and Kortschnoi. It's 5. ... f6 6.d4 ed4: 7.Nd4: c5 8.Nb3 Qd1: 9.Rd1: Bg4 10.f3 Be6, with the neat point 11.Bf4 c4! 12.Nd4 0-0-0 and white can't take on e6 because the knight is pinned. After 13.Nc3 the bishop goes to f7 and black is doing fine. Another point is 12.Na5 Bc5+ (hence Bg4 first to provoke f3) 13.Kf1 Bb6 with equality.
   
Fashionable nowadays is the retreat 8.Ne2!? where black is OK if he knows what to do and should play 8. ... Bd7 9.Nbc3 0-0-0, and  go for the setup Re8, Bc6, b6 followed by Ng8-e7-g6-e5 and Bd6. Spasski played this against Fisher in their Yugoslavia match.

The exchange variation is quite drawish I'm afraid. However if you're a good endgame player you might outplay your opponent, for instance by getting rid of the doubled pawns while retaining the bishop's pair. It is very important to stick to the bishops' pair in most variations, because otherwise white has the better pawn structure (kings side majority) and black has nothing to offset this. Sometimes black can let go of the bishop's pair if he has resolved his doubled pawns or has other compensation for his slightly weakened pawn structure like the more active pieces.
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #7 - 02/02/11 at 06:33:06
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Quote:
taking with 4...dxc6 is viewed as the better move because it leaves black with better opening position.  white is better developed and taking with the b-pawn basically allows white to have 2 pieces developed while black has none.  it's against the rule: pawns capture towards the center, but every rule in chess is taken with a grain of salt...


I suggest that the rule should be rewritten as follows:

Given the choice of two pawn recaptures on the same square, one should recapture towards the centre unless recapturing away from the centre leads to more rapid piece development.

This rule obviously has its exceptions, but not as many as the original rule.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
Reply #6 - 02/02/11 at 04:00:41
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taking with 4...dxc6 is viewed as the better move because it leaves black with better opening position.  white is better developed and taking with the b-pawn basically allows white to have 2 pieces developed while black has none.  it's against the rule: pawns capture towards the center, but every rule in chess is taken with a grain of salt...
  
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greengiant
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variatio
Reply #5 - 11/30/07 at 13:56:04
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Thank you all for responding! I'll take a closer look at your feedback and then I'll get back to you. Thanks again!
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variatio
Reply #4 - 11/25/07 at 08:41:14
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Girkassa wrote on 11/24/07 at 22:40:27:
Greengiant, it seems that you're referring to the 4...bxc6 Ruy Lopez. 4...dxc6 is much more usual, and as Alias says, 5.Nxe5 is then not good for White. I don't know what's considered the best line for White against 4...bxc6, but I believe there are reasons everyone on top level prefer 4...dxc6. After 5.0-0, Black can choose from a variety of ways to protect the e5-pawn (5...f6, 5...Bg4, 5...Bd6, 5...Qd6).


I didn't understand the comment about the unprotected pawn on c6.

The line referred to is probably

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.Nxe5 Qe7 6.d4 d6 7.Nxc6 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9. Kxe2 Bb7 10.d5 Bxc6 11.dxc6 Ne7 Panczyk & Ilczuk quotes a Gipslis analysis which gives white a small advantage after 12.Nc3 Nxc6 13.Nd5 0-0-0 14. Be3

4...bxc6 has a poor reputation. In the book, P&I has one game with 4...bxc6 and 73 with 4...dxc6 (not to mention all the game references.) They write: "The move 4...bxc6 has no real merit. Black cannot even count on surprise value since if White continues with normal development, the game transposes to a passive line for Black where White has an extra tempo."

Apart from 5.Nxe5 they have 5.d4 as main line and also analyse 5.0-0!? and 5.Nc3 and in all cases they prefer white.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variatio
Reply #3 - 11/24/07 at 22:40:27
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Greengiant, it seems that you're referring to the 4...bxc6 Ruy Lopez. 4...dxc6 is much more usual, and as Alias says, 5.Nxe5 is then not good for White. I don't know what's considered the best line for White against 4...bxc6, but I believe there are reasons everyone on top level prefer 4...dxc6. After 5.0-0, Black can choose from a variety of ways to protect the e5-pawn (5...f6, 5...Bg4, 5...Bd6, 5...Qd6).
  
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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variatio
Reply #2 - 11/24/07 at 07:02:42
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After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 white does not play 5.Nxe5 to win a pawn. Black responds 5...Qd4, gets his pawn back, and has an easy ending after the queen trade on e2. "In no case should White exchange the central e-pawns and additionally open the position for Black's bishops."

Instead of 5.Nxe5 the main line is 5.0-0. White will later play d4 to exchange the d-pawn for blacks e-pawn. White will then have 4 pawns vs 3 on the king's side. In endgames white can then get a passed pawn. Black has 4 vs 3 on the queen's side, but since he has a doubled pawn, he will have more difficulties producing a passed pawn. On the other hand, black has the bishop pair and a soild position.
  

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Re: Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variatio
Reply #1 - 11/24/07 at 06:35:04
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Greetings,

greengiant
Welcome to ChessPublishing!  Grin

I must say first that I don't play 1.e4 myself, however - apart from the resident experts here - you'll find some information at the following site;
http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/Openings/ruylopez.html

There's also the following recent book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ruy-Lopez-Exchange-Krzysztof-Panczyk/dp/1857443896/ref=s...

But I'd urge you to await the advice from those who frequent this section of the forum!

Kindest regards,

Dragan Glas
  
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Understanding the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation)
11/24/07 at 04:43:03
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Hi, All

I'm trying to make sense of this most annoying opening Undecided
I play the Black side of the Classical Lopez religiously,
but the Exchange Variation always ruins things. I'd
appreciate your feedback on the soundness of Black's
proposed strategy, and any good books that deal with it.

What's the game plan for White?

* Win the e5 pawn by getting rid of its
c6 defender (4 Bxc6, 5 Nxe5).
* Also take the unprotected c6 pawn left
over from the above exchange (7 Nxc6).
Please remember, this gained material will
only become helpful if Black doesn't force
its retaking.

What's the game plan for Black?

* Allow White to attain the e5 and c6 pawns,
and then force their return (5 ... Qe7, 6 ... d6,
7 ... Qxe4, 11 ... Ne7). Please note, any clingy
attempts on his part can be punished by
taking the c6 knight.

http://chesssokolskyopening.blogspot.com/
  
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