Ruy Lopez, Berlin defence, open variation

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Tonight I played glChess, which is the chess game that comes as part of GNOME Games. glChess uses the GNU Chess game engine.

Below is a little match report.

  • White: Zeth
  • Black: GNU Chess
  • Date: 2008.10.24
  • Result: 1-0

For those of you who are not chess fans, here is the starting position.

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/0.png

Now we begin.

1. e4 e5

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/1.png

Opened with Kings pawn, black responded likewise.

2. Nf3 Nc6

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/2.png

Fairly standard Open Game.

3. Bb5 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/3a.png

Ruy Lopez aka Spanish opening.

3 ... Nf6

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/3b.png

Black responds by moving his knight from g8 to f6, attacking my central pawn, known as the Berlin Defence. Black could instead have started to push my bishop back with a6.

4. O-O ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/4a.png

White can defend with knight to c3, however, if black takes the pawn at e4 then white can respond tit-for-tat by taking the pawn at e5. Therefore white has a tempo, so can use the time to castle the white king to safety.

4. ... Nxe4

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/4b.png

Black takes my pawn. We are now at the Ruy Lopez, Berlin defence, open variation.

Now white can immediately take back the pawn on e5, but then white would face the risk of the black knight at c6. White could take out the knight at c6 with the bishop, simplifying the game, however that is probably not in white's interest. I decided to increase the pressure at e5 by pushing the white pawn to d4.

5. d4 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/5a.png

Black can respond by harassing the white bishop, either by using pawn to a6 which is still available, or by pulling his king-side knight back to d6. Another option is that Black could develop his own king-side bishop forwards, making room to castle.

5 ... exd4

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/5b.png

However, in this game, Black takes another pawn at d4. This greediness leaves black somewhat over exposed.

Now there are lots of attacking possibilities for white, white can still exchange the bishop at knight at c6, white can attack the pawn at d4. White can also harass the black knight by moving the rook into e1.

6. Re1 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/6a.png

I quite like this because the knight is pinned due to the black king being exposed along king's column (the 'e' column). This is quite slow and delicate play, so I might mess up from here. I had better pay attention.

6 ... d5

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/6b.png

Black defends by moving his pawn to d5, doubling up his pawns. He could have moved f5 which would have lead to a clearer position but the king would become even more exposed.

Now white has a few choices here for my 7th move. White can move the queen-side bishop to g5, threatening the queen (easily blocked by black pawn to f6), white can take the pawn at d4 with the knight, the black knight at c6 is forced to defend from the bishop at b6.

White has its pawn at c2 which is not too far from the action. c2 to c4 risks being captured in passing (the lesser known 'en passant' rule), as well as being captured by the black bishop at f8. Pawn to c3 is quite nice way to increase the aggression.

7. a3 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/7a.png

However I have played the quiet game so I will stick with it. This little move cuts of the black King's Bishop from attacking me on the left flank.

7. ... Qf6 8. Bg5 Qe6 9. Nxd4 Qd6 10. Nc3 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/10a.png

Black's premature deployment of his Queen requires a hasty retreat, while white develops the bishop and knights and captures one of the doubled up pawns.

10 .. Be7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7

Black reinforces his queen, white cannot allow that so takes prompt action.

12. Nxd5 Qh4 13. g3 Qg5

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/13b.png

White takes back the pawn he is owed and puts the pressure back on the queen.

14. Nxc7+ Kf8 15. Nxa8 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/15a.png

This queen chasing has left the black king exposed, white attacks and takes the reward.

A human player might resign at this point being a whole rook behind, but the computer does not resign so we need to plough on.

15. ... Bg4 16. f4 Qg6 17. Nf3 Kg8

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/17b.png

Black responds with an attack on the white queen, white offers an exchange. Black, behind in material, declines and retreats.

Kg8 is somewhat of a dull move by black. However, for white this creates the possibility of getting a knight to e7.

18. Qe2 f5 19. Bc4+ Kf8 20. Rad1 Qf6 21. Kg2 ...

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/21a.png

Everyone piles into the centre. The troops sense the eerie smell of a forthcoming bloodbath.

21 ... Qxb2

Black takes a free pawn, however there is only the knight at c6 stopping white from Rd8.

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/21b.png

22. h3 Bxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Qxc2+ 24. Qe2 Qxe2+ 25. Rxe2

Battle is joined as the black bishop is exchanged for the white knight and queen for queen.

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/25a.png

25. ... h5 26. Nc7 h4 27. gxh4 Rxh4 28. Ne6+ Kg8 29. Ng5+ Kf8 30. Nxe4 fxe4 31. Rxe4 Rh5 32. Rd5 Rxd5 33. Bxd5 a5 34. Bxc6 bxc6

The pace slows at little, but before long all the major pieces are captured, leaving white with the extra rook earned in turn 15. It is impossible for black to survive now.

http://commandline.org.uk/images/posts/chess/matchreport/20081024/34b.png

6 thoughts on “Ruy Lopez, Berlin defence, open variation”

  1. <p>Thanks for commenting the game. I'm new to chess and it's great to see your reasoning behind some of the moves.</p>
    <p>However, how do you know what to call the opening moves? Are they memorized?</p>

  2. <p>I'm not that good at chess, but I have a question.</p>
    <p>At 15, why doesn't white simply take black's knight in C6 with the bishop?</p>
    <p>It's an easy kill, since any attempts to retaliate (with the black pawn or queen) allows the white queen to mate the king in D8!</p>

  4. <p>My bad, I meant the picture beneath 15, after close inspection my suggestion would be on 18.</p>
    <p>Instead of 18 : Qe2, I would have taken that knight with my bishop. Again, as I said, no retaliation possible from black without exposing himself to an easy mate with the white queen in D8</p>

  6. <p>i completely agree Nostoc with what you say,all the while during reading i didnt understand what was the need of prolonging the game as it was an easy mate there !!
    Newaz, the post is super, i like it !!</p>

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