Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 · C63
Part of Ruy Lopez
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
The centre opens before either king is safe
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The idea
Black ignores the pressure on e5 and hits back with ...f5 at once — the sharpest, most double-edged answer to the Spanish.
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Nxc6 Qg5
What White wants
- Accept the pawn and consolidate with Nc3, d3 and O-O
- Return material at the right moment to keep the better structure
- Watch the g-file and the black queen's sorties to g5 and g2
What Black wants
- Open the f-file and play for a direct attack on f2
- Use the queen on g5 or h4 to create threats before White consolidates
- Accept a slightly worse endgame if the attack fizzles
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
The centre opens before either king is safe
The advance ...f5 attacks e4 and invites sharp central exchanges. In the displayed line ...d5 gains time on the knight, and ...Qg5 creates threats against g2 and the bishop on b5. White must calculate those threats instead of judging the position only by the material count.
Common mistake
Assuming central captures will leave Black without counterplay. The displayed sequence is a sharp theoretical line, not a simple pawn win; after ...Qg5 White has to address threats on g2 and b5 while both kings remain uncastled.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1b1kbnr/ppp3pp/2N5/1B4q1/4p3/8/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 1 8
Analyze this position