Morphy Defense, Alapin's Defense Deferred
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Bb5a6
- 4.Ba4Bb4
130 games
A rare Morphy Defense sideline of the Ruy Lopez in which Black answers 4. Ba4 with 4...Bb4, a bishop move that lets White gain time with c3.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Alapin's Defense Deferred
The Alapin's Defense Deferred places the dark-squared bishop on b4 instead of the usual 4...Nf6 or 4...Bc5. With no white knight on c3, the bishop pins nothing there and does not add pressure to e4. The usual reply, 5. c3, attacks it with gain of tempo and prepares d4. 5. O-O and 5. Nc3 are the other choices. The line is rarely played. Engines give White a clear advantage, and White scores heavily in the small sample of games.