Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Closed, Breyer

C95positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nf6
  5. 5.O-OBe7
  6. 6.Re1b5
  7. 7.Bb3d6
  8. 8.c3O-O
  9. 9.h3Nb8
  10. 10.d4
708 games47%47%

Closed Ruy Lopez line in which Black retreats 9...Nb8 to reroute the knight to d7, a solid, maneuvering defense popularized by Spassky.

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About the Breyer

The Breyer Variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez begins with 9...Nb8, a deliberate retreat that sends the knight to d7. There it supports e5, frees the c-pawn and leaves the long diagonal open for a bishop on b7. After 10. d4 (ECO C95; the quieter 10. d3 is C94), Black almost always replies 10...Nbd7. Gyula Breyer recommended the line in 1911, and Boris Spassky made it popular in the 1960s. Engines give White a slight edge.

Popular continuations