Spanish Variation, Ranken Variation

The Ranken Variation arises when White answers 4...a6 by exchanging on c6 at once instead of retreating with 5. Ba4, which would transpose to a Ruy Lopez position. It is named after the English clergyman and chess writer Charles Ranken, who analyzed it in the Chess Player's Chronicle in 1879. White gives up the bishop pair in return for damaging Black's pawns and creating an apparent threat to e5. Engines assess the position as a slight edge for White.

The usual reply is 5...dxc6, which frees the c8 bishop and opens the d-file for the queen. The direct 6. Nxe5 is then answered by 6...Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qd4, the Spielmann Variation, in which the queen forks both knights and Black recovers the material. After 8. O-O Qxe5 9. Re1 Be6 10. d4 Qd5 material is level. The alternative recapture, 5...bxc6, keeps an extra pawn toward the center and appears in about a third of games, although White scores somewhat better against it online. Engines also rank the in-between move 5...Bb4 among Black's strongest options.