Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Closed, Rosen Attack

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  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nf6
  5. 5.O-OBe7
  6. 6.Re1b5
  7. 7.Bb3d6
  8. 8.d4
312 games43%53%

A premature central thrust in the Closed Ruy Lopez, playing d4 before c3, which allows Black to win a pawn or trap White's bishop.

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About the Rosen Attack

The Rosen Attack, 8. d4, strikes at the center before White has prepared the advance with c3. After 8...Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4, the recapture 10. Qxd4 runs into 10...c5 and 11...c4, the Noah's Ark trap, which wins the b3 bishop. The alternative 10. c3 turns the line into a gambit with insufficient compensation. The name comes from Leon Rosen, who tried it against Mikhail Chigorin in Paris in 1900. Engines slightly favor Black, and Black scores well in practice.

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