Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Bird's Defense Deferred

C70offbeattactical

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nd4
333 games53%44%

An unusual Ruy Lopez sideline in which Black plays the Bird's Defense knight jump ...Nd4 after 3...a6 4. Ba4, generally leaving White a clear edge.

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About the Bird's Defense Deferred

Bird's Defense Deferred, 4...Nd4, brings the knight jump of Bird's Defense (3...Nd4) into the Morphy Defense. With the bishop already on a4, the knight no longer attacks it. Taking the pawn with 5. Nxe5 is risky. After 5...Qg5 or 5...Qe7 Black wins the material back, and Black scores well in practice. The principled 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. O-O gives Black a worse version of Bird's Defense and leaves White with a clear lead in development.

Popular continuations