Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Brix Variation

C78offbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nf6
  5. 5.O-Og6
43 games58%37%

A rare Ruy Lopez sideline in which Black answers 5. O-O with 5...g6 to fianchetto the king's bishop, a setup engines rate as clearly better for White.

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About the Brix Variation

The Brix Variation answers 5. O-O with 5...g6. Black prepares to fianchetto the king's bishop instead of developing it on e7 or c5, and the line can be read as a twice-delayed form of the Smyslov idea of ...g6. The move does nothing to protect e5, and engines consider White clearly better, preferring 6. Bxc6, 6. d4 or 6. Re1. In practice 6. Re1 and 6. c3 are the usual replies. The variation is seldom played.

Popular continuations