MNb wrote on 04/06/10 at 11:18:55:
7.Re1 is pretty strong indeed according to statistics; White wins more than half of the games.
In chesslive database most of the players play 7. d4. I found two games where Shirov and Short played 7. Re1 but this games are from simuls and both ended in a draw.
TN wrote on 04/06/10 at 12:14:21:
The best 'alternative' move order for reaching the Lopez is probably 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Ne4 5.d4 a6, although this also has its problems after 6.Bc6 dc6 7.Qe2! Bf5 8.Re1! when White is slightly better.
The advantages of this move order are that you avoid the Exchange Variation with 3...a6 4.Bc6 (since 4.Bc6 is harmless against 3...Nf6), you avoid the Worrall and 5.d3, the latter of which has increased in popularity recently, and White's alternatives 4.Nc3, 4.d3 and 4.Qe2 are considered completely harmless. The main disadvantage is that White can gain a slight advantage if he knows the theory, but the surprise effect (5...a6 will take most under 2000 players out of book) probably outweighs this.
So it boils down to whether you would prefer to face the Exchange, Worrall and 5.d3 or 4.Nc3, 4.d3 and, against a well-prepared opponent, the Ivanchuk novelty.
TN wrote on 04/06/10 at 12:15:51:
I forgot to mention: White can also play 5.Re1 instead of 5.d4 in the 5...a6 move order. It's equal but Black still has to know about 15 moves of theory - not that this should perturb an Open Ruy devotee.
I have never before seen this move order. Reaching Open Spanish from Berlin. I found one game on the highest level:
[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe2 Bf5 8.
Re1 Bb4 9. c3 Bd6 10. Qc2 Qd7 11. dxe5 Bc5 12. Rxe4 O-O-O 13. Nbd2 Qd5 14. Kf1
Rhe8 15. b3 g5 16. Bb2 g4 17. Nd4 Bxd4 18. cxd4 c5 19. Rae1 cxd4 20. Qc4 Bxe4
21. Rxe4 Rxe5 22. Rxg4 Rde8 23. Nf3 Qxc4+ 24. bxc4 Re2 25. Bxd4 Rxa2 26. Rg7 a5
27. Rxf7 Rc2 28. g4 a4 29. g5 a3 30. Rxh7 a2 31. Rh8 Rxh8 32. Bxh8 Rxc4 33. h3
c5 34. Ne1 Rc1 35. g6 Kd7 36. Bb2 Ke6 37. h4 c4 38. h5 c3 39. Bxc1 a1=Q 40. Nd3
0-1
According to engines 8...Bb4 was mistake and Carlsen should have played 8...Bd6.