Morphy Defense, Schliemann Defense Deferred
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Bb5a6
- 4.Ba4f5
933 games
A rare Ruy Lopez line in which Black plays the Schliemann thrust ...f5 after 3...a6 4. Ba4, a gambit-style try in which 5. d4 is critical.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Schliemann Defense Deferred
The Schliemann Defense Deferred, also known as the Jaenisch Gambit Deferred, inserts 3...a6 4. Ba4 before the f-pawn thrust 4...f5. The extra moves change the theory. 5. d4 becomes critical, and both 5...exd4 6. e5 and 5...fxe4 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. dxe5 favor White. Engines give White a clear edge, and 5. d3 is the most common reply in practice. Korchnoi used the line against Karpov in the 1974 Candidates Final, and Praggnanandhaa beat Vidit with it in the 2024 Candidates.