Okay. What about the Schliemann (or Jaenisch) gambit then ( 1.e4-e5 2.Nf3-Nc6 3.Bb5-f5). And maybe combine it with Bird`s variation (3.Bb5-Nd4) so that you`re  not that easy to predict for your opponents...   

The Schliemann is a gambit yes, but not such a wild one I dare say. I think black gets his share of the play. And the Bird-variation is maybe underrated.  

At least these should be playable systems if you like them. As a bonus you will not have to face the exchange variation if adopting this repertoaire. 

Of course its not strickly the Ruy Lopez, but maybe you dont mind...?

I will also mention the Moller variation: 1.e4-e5 2.Nf3-Nc6 3.Bb5-a6 4.Ba4-Nf6 5.0-0-Bc5!? This has some nuances compared to the neo-Archangel

BobbyDigital80 wrote on 02/09/15 at 06:20:29:


Well. I suppose lots of openings would suit you then, the Marshall and Gajewski Variations are active and positionally based (not 'wild' and definitely not 'boring') the Aronian stuff and Classical are fine, too (you're unlikely to play against anyone who knows any 'refutation', should one exist), especially the first which offers active positional play.

Hi Bobby:  I was not going to say anything but since this topic seems to be still unresolved, I will mention the Modern Steinitz.  Capablanca wrote in Chess FUndamentals that he favored it particularly where he wanted to play for a win as Black.  (!!!)  (Contrast to Capa's comments on the Open: "Of all the Ruy Lopez defenses, I like this [Open] the least..." [Capa then described a game where he commented during the early middlegame that Black was already lost due to the backward c-pawn.])

Anyway, Tim Taylor's book is a fine starting point based on Keres' games.  I note that Taylor only covers Ng8-f6 setups, and you can get a lot of mileage out of Ne7 instead, and the lines with Nh6, f7-f6 and Nf7 are even more ambitious still.  There are tons of great Capablanca, Alekhine, and Keres games in the Modern Steinitz.

Among modern GMs, Robert Hess is the guy to check out.

In the above mentioned book the authors follow the game Shennum-Rodin, email 2001 up to move 13 as their main line and consider Black to be slightly better. Perhaps White can improve somewhere but the combination of Bg2 with Ne2 doesn´t feel right to me when Black has opened up the centre with ...d5. 

The knight is better off on f3 in this case. To get back on topic, in the Cozio Black obviously doesn´t have the option of putting the knight on f6.

Stigma wrote on 02/08/15 at 17:32:46:


Both. I´m with Lysyj & Ovetchkin here who end their coverage of this line of the Vienna in "The Open Games for Black" with =+. 

Stigma wrote on 02/08/15 at 17:32:46:


It might, but then you would also have to reckon with 5.Bb3. Dreev considers White to be better here. I haven´t looked at this since one of the points of the Cozio to me is to avoid the Exchange Variation.

BobbyDigital80 wrote on 01/31/15 at 23:16:02:


A couple of questions, what level are we talking about, and what sort of player are you?
I've played a lot of risky Spanish lines as Black over the years, and have only very rarely found myself facing critical variations, and this includes playing quite strong GMs! Obviously if you are playing opponents somewhat weaker than this then there is a lot of choice.

PANFR wrote on 02/05/15 at 11:41:07:


You certainly mean 10.f4 Nc6 11.f5!? Ned4 12.Bb2. I agree this is unpleasant for Black. Alternatives are 5...Nxe4 which is also mentioned by Kosten and 8...Nc6!? which prevents b4 and intends to round up the pawn on c5 later.

CarriedbyGg wrote on 02/06/15 at 21:43:09:


I am not in favour of the Cozio because White can simply play 4.0-0 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Nxc6 which is bascially a reversed Vienna (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bc5 7.Ne2). Dreev seemingly hasn´t realized this transposition. I played this once with Black last year and didn´t like my knight on e7 one bit. Of course White has also other more ambitious tries but that´s enough to put me off the Cozio.

What about 3. Nge7? It avoids the Exchange and sets for this double-edged setup involving g6 an a quick liquidation in the centre. Just forgot the name though :x

Fllg wrote on 02/01/15 at 11:21:34:


The problem is that the line advocated by Kosten (5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.d4 a6 7.Be2 Nxe4 8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.b4! Ne6 10.f5!? Ned4 11.Bb2 etc) is extremely unpleasant for Black, and 10.Bb2 is not plain-sailing, either.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not looking for something that's necessarily supremely active, just at least semi-active. I have looked at the Neo-Archangel quite a bit and it seems like there's not much room for creativity and there are lots of long forced lines that are exciting and very tactical but end up in very drawish positions.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an active Ruy Lopez repertoire for black? I've looked at a bunch of different lines but can't really decide on one. I want it to be somewhat active, sound, and avoid White being able to choose threefold repetition draws (like in the Marshall and Zaitsev). Thanks to anyone who has a suggestion!