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This is to give you initial but essential knowledge on the Ruy Lopes chess opening, on its Exchange Variation, and this information is designed for chess beginners. To learn the Exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez on this site, read the description in Part I just below and see Video in Part II at the bottom of this page.
I. Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation: Description
The Ruy Lopez, Exchange variation is popular today at all levels of chess.
Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6
ECO Codes: C68-C69
After 3... a6, White simply takes the knight on c6... Playing the Exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez, White and Black use the following tactics. White: To damage the whole pawn structure and get advantage on the King side. In the endgame - to break through, promote his pawn, and win.
Black: To keep and explorer the advantage of 2 bishops vs the bishop and knight. If White has changed the pawn structure, Black should not exchange any of his bishop until proper compensation in the opening phase. The Exchange variation of the Ruy Lopes has 7 subvariations:
• Exchange, Alekhine variation [simple, useful for chess beginners]:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7
• Exchange, Keres variation:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3
• Exchange, Romanovsky variation:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3 f6 6.d3
• Exchange, 5.O-O variation:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O
• Exchange, Alapin Gambit variation [very exciting but sharp and risky]:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Bg4 6.h3 h5
• Exchange, Gligoric variation:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O f6
• Exchange, Bronstein variation:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Qd6
To provide King safety, White makes short castling while Black makes short castling or long. Within the Exchange variation, the typical White moves are d4 and then Nxd4 or Qxd4 - to preferably change the pawn structure. The typical Black move is f6 which works good for the Exchange variation.
II. Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation: Video
Video "Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation" (this is video 4 on the Ruy Lopez on this site) is located below. This video will help you learn the Exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez in a visible way. It runs for 4 minutes 40 seconds. To see the video on the Ruy Lopez Exchange variation, click the Play button below:
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On this page, you have studied the Exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening which is popular today at all levels of chess... The variation starts with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6; it occupies ECO codes C68-C69 in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings.
