Chess. Spanish Party
Good day, dear friend!
Do you know what “Spanish torture” is? In chess, of course. This is the Spanish party for blacks. Today I propose to take a short sightseeing tour of this “torture chamber”. As the unforgettable Red Army soldier Sukhov said: “Right away? No, it’s better, of course, to suffer...”
What is the Spanish party?
The Spanish game is the most popular, starting with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
The history of the “Spanish flu” dates back several centuries. Back in 1561, the Spanish cleric Rio Lopez studied and systematized the variations resulting from the move 3.Bb5, which was the reason for the name of this opening.
White's main task in the Spanish game is to impede the free development of black pieces and prevent them from positioning themselves in convenient positions. Thus, seize the initiative, forcing Black to parry threats.
With the move 3.Bb5 White increases the pressure on the e5 square. Black must constantly consider the possibility of Cxc6 and capturing the pawn on e5. This does not mean that White will do this directly with his next move. For example: after 3…a6 4.K:e5 Qd4 Black has a good game.
The Spanish game is one of the most studied openings. Entire studies have been conducted and books have been written on the most popular options. Today we will review the main features. For whites and for blacks.
Main options
Rare sequels
3… Bb4
Calling “fire on yourself.” Example option:
With White's advantage.
3…. Kge7
With White playing better due to Black's pawn weaknesses.
3….g6
A correct, albeit somewhat slow move, giving White greater freedom of action. Consider the option when White sacrifices a pawn:
With a difficult endgame for Black.
3….Nd4 Bird Defense
Taking advantage of the position of the bishop on b5, Black starts a fight in the center. As practice shows, the knight's attack is somewhat premature and the black pawn on d4 can become a weakness.
An approximate scenario:
3….d6 Steinitz Defense
Has a reputation as a durable but passive option.
Example option:
With White's attack.
3….Cc5 Classic variation
Black brings out the bishop without fear of the d2-d4 advance and intends to counterattack White's center with 4....f5.
Example option:
White retains a slight advantage.
3….f5 Janisch Gambit
Black launches an immediate counterattack to the center.
4. Ks3 Is this much better than 4.ef? e4!
White has an advantage, the d3 pawn will soon “fall”.
Despite the fact that White, when played correctly, achieves “only” a better endgame, the last word in it has probably not been said yet.
Another option for Black in this line is 7... Qg5
White has the advantage. They play more freely.
Let me note that a typical mistake is 8...Q:g2?. More on this below, in the errors section.
As we see, not everything is so simple in Janisch's gambit. It is not so easy to refute Black's plan with long castling.
3…. Kf6 Berlin Defense
For a long time it was considered a second-rate debut. However, at the beginning of this century, the gaze of the “masters” somehow fell on her. In particular, Vladimir Kramnik.
And everything changed.
In the main variation, already rejected by theory, additional resources were found for Black
For example:
Black has sufficient counterplay.
Practice in recent years has shown that the position is acceptable for Black despite the doubled pawns and the king in the center.
3….a6
This move begins the main ramification of the Spanish game.
Since we have an article, and not a monograph, it is not possible to consider the options in any adequate volume.
Therefore, your humble servant undertakes to write a review of variations with 3...a6 in a separate article. The same applies to the Berlin defense.
Common mistakes
A very common mistake is to take the pawn on g2 in the main variation of the Janisch Gambit.
After 9.Qh5+ White wins
9…g6 doesn’t help either
Such options are sometimes used as traps (in this case for White). You just need to know them if you decide to play openings like the Janisch Gambit.
Which option should I choose?
A) Select the main option
The one you will play most often. So to speak, the “highlight” of your debut program. It is desirable that this “nail” meet the following criteria:
- The option must be correct. Even if your opponent plays correctly, you should not end up in frankly worse positions “by default.” Otherwise, your friends-competitors will quickly “notice” that you are playing a “crooked” variation, and will begin to use it shamelessly, over and over again driving you “to the ground” already in the opening.
- You must like him. It’s not always easy to explain what we like or don’t like in life and why. Trust your intuition.
There is such a thing as “flow state”. When you do what you love, you are “in the flow” and are able to move mountains.
So is chess. When you play what you like, your possibilities are higher than when you “saw” what someone advised you, but “your soul doesn’t lie.”
B) Backup option
We have already discussed that the opening repertoire should include “special” openings and variations designed for the effect of surprise or inconvenient for a particular partner. Accordingly, they should be used from case to case.
Approximate games
Harikrishna - Bambacher
European Cup, 2016, 1:0
Ivanchuk - Elvest
Petrov Memorial, 2013, 1:0
Svidler - Stefanova
Gibraltar, 2012, 1:0
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Today Olesya's coach, Oleg Kislitsyn, shows interesting opening tricks - traps that can be successfully used in the Spanish game.
Spanish game: Opening trap No. 1 - on the move d6
So, the standard beginning of Spanish:
We will not now go deeper into the variation when Black takes on e4, but will consider the move d6.
Now White defends the pawn on e4 with his rook, and Black pins with his bishop on g4.
Now the fun begins. White plays e5, starting to open up sharply.
And now White will surprise Black with Ne5. Now the position is with a huge advantage for White, but Black doesn’t know about it yet :)
Black takes the queen, but White immediately wins it back.
9. K:c6+ Ce7
10. N:d8 + N:d8
11. Rxd1 and we have an extra piece.
Spanish game: Opening trap No. 2
Usually in Spanish we hit on c6, but now we will look at another option.
This position also happens with a reversal of moves.
Trap No. 2 in the Spanish flu - part 1
White again suddenly attacks on e5, leaving his queen.
Trap No. 2 in the Spanish flu - part 2
It's time to win back the queen.
10. N:c6+ N:f7
11. N:d8+ R:d8
11. Rxd1 and White has 2 extra pawns.
difficulty: ★
The Spanish game is one of the oldest chess openings. It was first explored by the Spanish chess player Ruy Lopez in the 16th century. Since then, the Spanish game has remained one of the most popular openings and is used at all levels.
The first moves of this opening are: 1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5
The purpose of the bishop attack is to exchange the c6 knight at the right moment and win the e5 pawn. Or, with the help of this threat, force Black to drive away the bishop with a6 and b5, in order to then use the advanced position of the pawns to his advantage. The Spanish game has a lot of systems, variants and sub-variants. Let's look briefly at some of the most popular ones.
On move 3, Black has a choice - to clarify the bishop's intentions with the move a6 or to do without moving the extreme pawn.
Defense without moving a6
Steinitz Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 d6
Black, without further ado, immediately defends the e5 pawn. But this does not cause big problems for White, who with the help of the d2-d4 breakthrough will get a slightly more active game.
Berlin version
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 Kf6
An ancient variation that received a new impetus for development after V. Kramnik successfully played it as black in the world championship match against G. Kasparov in 2000. Then very often the game goes into the endgame after 4. 0-0 N:e4 5. d4 Kd6 6. C:c6 dc 7. de Kf5 8. Q:d8+ Kp:d8. White spoiled Black's pawn structure, gaining an advantage on the king's side of 4 against 3 pawns, and deprived the Black king of castling. In return, Black has the advantage of two bishops and no weaknesses. Their position is very strong, for which the option was nicknamed the “Berlin Wall”. Many grandmasters still struggle in analysis and at the board, trying to break through it.
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 f5
Black wants to distract the e4 pawn in order to capture the center with d5. Same idea as in . Accepting the gambit right away is dangerous. White usually plays 4. Nc3 or even 4. d4, throwing more wood into the fire. There is also a calmer, but also strong continuation 4. d3. White's chances are higher in many variants of the Janisch Gambit, but in a heated fight anything can happen. You can read more about the Janisz Gambit in.
Bird's Option
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 Kd4
With a counterattacking knight attack, Black wants to immediately clarify the situation in the center. The disadvantage is that you have to waste time on the second move with an already developed piece. White can try to use the resulting tempo to his advantage.
Defenses with the move a6
Exchange option
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 a6 4. C:c6 dc
It would seem that Black by moving a6 only pushes White to carry out the threat. But after 5. Nxe5 Black wins back the pawn with 5... Qd4 with an equal game. Therefore, White's plan is connected with the move d2-d4. And after exchanging pawns, they will gain a 4v3 advantage on the kingside, which will allow them to create a passed pawn there in the future. Black, due to the doubled pawns with, will not be able to do the same on the queenside. But in contrast, they get the advantage of two bishops. A long struggle will show whose trump cards will prevail.
Improved Steinitz Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 a6 4. Ca4 d6
Black includes the move a6 in order to be able to drive away the bishop with b5 in the variations.
Open option
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 a6 4. Ca4 Kf6 5. 0-0 K:e4
Black cannot hold the extra pawn after 6. d4 or 6. Re1. But there is some unloading in the center, which leads to a lively figure fight.
Marshall's counterattack
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 a6 4. Ca4 Kf6 5. 0-0 Ce7 6. Re1 b5 7. Cb3 0-0 8. c3 d5
Black counterattacks in the center, but White can take the pawn: 9. ed K:d5 10. K:e5 K:e5 11. R:e5. In return, Black gains piece activity and develops an attack on the king. For example, 11... c6 12. d4 Cd6 13. Le1 Qh4. The variation leads to a very sharp fight, and Black's chances are considered no worse. White often deviates from the Marshall Variation on move 8, playing instead of 8...c3 in a different way, for example a4, d3, h3. In this case, the pawn sacrifice is not so dangerous, since White still has the opportunity to develop the knight on c3.
Closed systems
1. e4 e5 2. Kf3 Kc6 3. Cb5 a6 4. Ca4 Kf6 5. 0-0 Ce7 6. Re1 b5 7. Cb3 0-0 8. c3 d6
White captures the center by d2-d4 and a complex maneuvering battle begins. However, the immediate 9. d4 runs into the unpleasant 9... Bg4. Therefore, 9. h3 is usually played first. Then black can play in different ways. For example, 9. ... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qs7 leads to the Chigorin Variation, 11 ... Kd7 leads to the Keres Variation. There is also a paradoxical retreat 9. Kb8 (Breuer's variation) in order to then transfer the knight to d7.
The Spanish game is a very diverse and strategically rich opening. It’s not for nothing that they say that in order to learn to play chess, you need to learn to play the Spanish game.
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Berlin Defense V Spanish Party has become part of the main weapon for Black today. Berlin has a reputation for being boring and a draw for Black. However, everything changed when Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik used it against Garry Kasparov in the World Championship match.
Kramnik used it in four games and all of them ended in a draw. After that, this option attracted elite players, and ordinary chess players followed them. Many grandmasters, such as Topalov, Shirov, Anand and even Kasparov, began to use this defense after the match. Currently defending champion Magnus Carlsen continues to use it, as well as other strong players Wesley So and Levon Aronian.
To combat gross mistakes, find the right plan in difficult positions, and strengthen your positional and tactical vision, we recommend you. Hundreds of chess players have already benefited from our training. Do not wait,
Why is she so popular for Blacks?
After the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 White usually continues 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 5.dxe5 Nf5 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8
The question often arises: why is the opening in which Black traded queens, lost castling rights and gained a doubled pawn so popular? The reason is quite simple. Castling is not so important after the exchange of queens, and the king in the center is not only safe, but even much more useful. Black gets doubled pawns, but has no weaknesses. The most important and attractive element for Black is that he gets a pair of bishops.
And where are the hopes for victory? If White tries to open a position in order to realize his pawn majority, then Black bishops will receive space and sufficient counterplay. And most importantly, in the Berlin Defense you do not need to know the exact sequence of moves, as in the Sicilian Defense. Therefore, Black can afford small mistakes that will not affect their game.
This defense can be avoided
In this article I will show some ideas for White that will avoid the main options and keep the game more tense. Of course, in the variations under consideration it is difficult to claim an opening advantage, but they deserve serious attention.
I recommend playing 4.d3, keeping the "Spanish style". Here Black usually continues with 4…Bc5. Next, White can take on c6 and play in the spirit of the Exchange Variation. Objectively, the game is equal with mutual chances. This option has been used several times by Magnus Carlsen and other famous players, so it should be taken seriously.
In the game Carlsen - Caruana, the world champion played f2-f4 after exchanging the dark-squared bishop. The result was a middlegame with opposite-colored bishops with a certain pressure along the f line for White.
The second game was played between Yu Yangi and Kramnik. With this victory over the former world champion, Yu Yangi secured 1st place in the Qatar Masters tournament. Yu Yangi is a specialist in this variation, so you should pay attention to his games.
Finally, we will look at other ideas for White, such as the d3-d4 explosion in the late middlegame.
So, as you can see, White doesn't have much of an opening advantage. However, the middlegame is full of pieces, the pawn structure is asymmetrical and therefore there are many options and ideas on both sides.
Note: If you want improve your chess level, you must have a clear study plan. If you strive to sharply increase your chess level, then you need to systematically work on all elements of the game:
- Tactics
- Positional play
- Attack Skills
- Endgame technique
- Classic Games Analysis
- Psychological preparation
- And much more
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