Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Closed, Kholmov Variation

C92solidpositional

  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.h3Be6
498 games56%38%

Closed Ruy Lopez line in which Black meets 9. h3 with 9...Be6, challenging the b3-bishop and usually heading for simplified positions.

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About the Kholmov Variation

The Kholmov Variation, 9...Be6, offers to trade the light-squared bishops instead of hunting the b3-bishop with ...Na5. This often leads to a simplified game in which White keeps slightly more activity. It was popular in the 1980s and is now rarer at master level. White most often retreats with 10. Bc2. The sharper main line is 10. d4 Bxb3 11. axb3 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Ne4, and analysis favors White, who emerges a pawn up against Black's piece activity.

Popular continuations