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.

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

Claus Jensen wrote on 09/01/11 at 11:51:16:


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

dfan wrote on 04/26/11 at 15:57:37:


Thanks.  Funny, I have that on my shelf.

OstapBender wrote on 04/26/11 at 15:00:21:


That's quite a main line, about which there was a Yearbook article a couple of years ago.

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?

5...Qd6 is an old main line.

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?

Hansen prefered Panczyk & Ilzcuk to Kindermann: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen78.pdf

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.

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.

Keano wrote on 02/04/11 at 09:17:44:


That is interesting. I always thought that 7. ... Bd6 gave Black sufficient compensation.

SWJediknight wrote on 02/03/11 at 13:46:50:

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.

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? 

NeverGiveUp wrote on 02/02/11 at 12:02:50:


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:


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:
 

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:


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.

Quote:


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. 

Thank you all for responding! I'll take a closer look at your feedback and then I'll get back to you. Thanks again!

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).

Greetings,

greengiant
Welcome to ChessPublishing! 

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