Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Closed, Keres Defense

C96positionaloffbeat

  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.h3Na5
  10. 10.Bc2c5
  11. 11.d4Nd7
147 games50%44%

A Chigorin line of the Closed Ruy Lopez where Black meets 11. d4 with 11...Nd7 instead of 11...Qc7; a rare choice tried by Paul Keres in the 1960s.

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About the Keres Defense

In the Chigorin Variation, after 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4, Black departs from the classical 11...Qc7 and plays the knight retreat 11...Nd7. Paul Keres used it a few times in the 1960s. It remains uncommon. The usual reply is 12. Nbd2, while 12. d5, which closes the center, is the engine's first choice and scores better for White in practice. 12. a4 is another option. Engines give White a slight edge.

Popular continuations