McDonald, The Ruy Lopez - Move by Move

This is a new series which provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge.

In this book, Grandmaster Neil McDonald studies one of the most important openings of all, the Ruy Lopez. This famous opening enjoys a long and distinguished history and is still widely regarded as White s strongest choice after 1 e4 e5. McDonald shares his experience and knowledge of the Lopez, examines the main ideas for both sides and offers answers to the key questions.


Essential guidance and training in the Ruy Lopez
Important ideas absorbed by continued practice
Covers both mainline and d3 repertoire options for White


Contents

Series Foreword

Introduction

1. White Plays d2-d3
A plan to get you started with the Ruy Lopez
White's restrained centre
The restrained centre versus a Closed Lopez set-up
The restrained centre versus a ...Bc5 (Möller) set-up
The restrained centre versus a ...Bb7 (Archangelsk) set-up
The restrained centre versus the Steinitz Deferred
The restrained centre versus the Berlin Defence
A restrained line against the Schliemann Defence

2. White Plays d2-d4
The Chigorin Variation
The Breyer Variation
The Karpov Variation
The Zaitsev Variation
The Smyslov Variation
The Steinitz Deferred and similar centre-holding ideas

3. Black plays ...Bc5
The Classical (or Cordel) Defence
The Berlin with ...Bc5
The Möller Defence
Bird's Defence

4. White's e5 Pawn Centre
The Berlin Defence with 4 0-0 Nxe4 5 d4 Be7
The Berlin Endgame
The Open Variation

5. Gambit Lines
The Schliemann Defence
The Steinitz Deferred: Siesta Variation
The Gajewski Gambit in the Chigorin
The Marshall Attack
The Anti-Marshall with 8 h3

Index of Variations

Index of Complete Games