Ruy Lopez by the fire |
By William T. Harvey | |
June 21, 2006 | |
This puzzle series is aimed to acquaint you with typical tactics in the Ruy Lopez. If you don't play the Ruy, you'll still find the exercise useful for general tactical training. They're all from real Ruy games, and there are some recurring patterns. Notice how frequently the light squared Bishop plays a leading role in the tactical death of white. This should give you an idea of why it's uncommon for white to give up this bishop, even when it seems that it's not doing much. (problems 1,3,6,11 +16) 1. White to Move Henk Schouten-Frank Denys Huy 1992 Bird Opening 2. Black to Move Stoddard-Sorenson Corr.1977 Schliemann 3. White to Move Kliavinish, Y-Zhuraliov, V. URS 1968 Classical 4. White to Move Bobotsov, M-Olafsson,F. Lyons 1955 Exchange Variation 5. Black to Move Parnenzini,P- Fernandez, J. Corr. 1992 Center Game 6. White to Move Martin Vaculik- Stanislav Galicek Svetla nad Savnou,1994 Moller 7. Black to Move Torres-Alekhine Seville, 1922 Steinitz Deferred 8. White to Move Laroschikn-Groper Berlin 1923, Open Ruy Lopez 9. White to Move Ivanov,A.-Hoover,N. Sioux Falls, 1998 Open Ruy Lopez Howell Variation 10. Black to Move Morabito-Dangremond Eastpointe, 1994 Worall Attack 11. White to Move Zatisev, Igor-Vornokov,B. Moscow, 1966 Closed Ruy-Zaitsev Variation 12. White to Move Fischer-Gligoric Zagreb, 1970 Closed Ruy-Smyslov Variation 13. White to Move Boleslavsky-Kholmov Leningrad, 1956 Closed Ruy-Chigorin Defense 14. Black to Move Hatzl,S-Jovanovic,Sasa Frohnleiten, 1999 Closed Ruy-Breyer 15. Black to Move Rodriguez,A- Rodriguez,E. Uruguay 1986 Bird Opening 16. White to Move Zatocha,V-Shamil,G. Harkany, 1994 Bird Opening 17. White to Move A Ynigo-D.Levine Philadelphia, 1995 Bird Opening 18. Black to Move Dworzynski-Keres Moscow, 1956 Modern Steinitz 19. Black to Move Kostiukchenko-Levin, M. Kiev, 1958 Marshall Gambit 20. White to Move Jansson,B-Tchalkhasuren,C. Anti-Marshall Solutions |