Complete Guide to the Ruy Lopez Exchange Structure

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Complete Guide to the Ruy Lopez Exchange Structure 

GM Aleksander Delchev     July 14, 2020

The current database deals with the Exchange Ruy Lopez structure. 

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This pawn structure usually arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 from one of the following lines:

A) 3... a6 4.Bxc6 (Exchange Spanish)

B) 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Bxc6 or 5.0-0 Be7 6 Bxc6 (Delayed Exchange Spanish)

C) 3...Nf6 4.Bxc6 (Anti-Berlin)

In my survey, I deal with this position both from White and Black's perspective. Besides improving your play in the abovementioned theoretical lines, this material is designed to improve your general chess understanding as well. Hopefully, you will get a better feeling of the following strategical aspects: play with and against a bishop pair, find the right plan and execute the right pawn break in static structures, the importance of the space advantage, play positions with opposite castles. Additionally, I am sure that this database will help you to increase your endgame technique since I provide a number of instructive examples.

The database is divided into the following sections: Historical Overview, Endgame Section, Pawn Structure 1, Pawn Structure 2, Opposite Castling, The Plan with f2-f4,Theoretical Overview. You will also find test sections which give you the possibility to check your understanding of the pawn structure.

Historical Overview

In the first part of my database, I will investigate the historical development of the ideas in the Exchange Spanish structure.

Doubling the pawns doesn't automatically trouble Black. His queenside pawn formation is compact and without holes. For someone who is not an expert of the line, it may seem that White achieves almost nothing in return for the exchange of his best piece. So the question is: How does White justify such a decision, and why did the Exchange Spanish pass the test of time? The first big deception was that White can play for a win in the endgame, where his 4/3 majority on the kingside will prevail over Black's bishop pair. It very quickly proved to be unrealistic against an average level of defence. The first great champion in history who created the image of the Exchange Spanish as a dangerous weapon was Lasker. His 13th game from the 1894 world championship match against Steinitz was the first real test for the value of the line. Lasker was leading with 7-2 and only now Steinitz gave him the option to play his pet line. Lasker played the most solid way (5.d4), with an early queen exchange, but the result was very disappointing, as he lost without making any notable mistake (game 1).