Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Open, St. Petersburg Variation

C82tacticalaggressive

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Ba4Nf6
  5. 5.O-ONxe4
  6. 6.d4b5
  7. 7.Bb3d5
  8. 8.dxe5Be6
  9. 9.c3Bc5
  10. 10.Nbd2
268 games46%43%

A branch of the Open Ruy Lopez where White meets 9...Bc5 with 10. Nbd2, contesting the e4 knight; play is sharp and close to balanced.

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About the St. Petersburg Variation

The St. Petersburg Variation arises from the Italian treatment 9...Bc5 of the Open Ruy Lopez. White answers Black's pressure on f2 with 10. Nbd2, challenging the advanced knight on e4. After the usual 10...O-O, 11. Bc2 threatens to capture twice on e4 and win a pawn. The older 11...f5 shores up the knight. The Dilworth Variation, 11...Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 f6, gives two minor pieces for rook and pawn in return for play on the f-file. Engines rate the position as roughly balanced.

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