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Ruy Lopez

Rotary-Albany Gambit

C60offbeat

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5b6
1,031 games58%39%

A rare Ruy Lopez sideline, 3...b6, in which Black ignores the pressure on the c6-knight; engines and practical results both favor White.

Train it in Theoria

About the Rotary-Albany Gambit

The Rotary-Albany Gambit, 3...b6, is one of the obscure third-move replies to the Ruy Lopez. It disregards the bishop's pressure on c6, preparing ...Bb7. Reference sources treat it as dubious. The engine gives White a clear advantage, with 4. c3, 4. O-O and 4. Ba4 its preferred moves. In practice 4. Bxc6 is the most common answer, followed by 4. O-O, and White scores well.

Popular continuations