Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...a6/4. Bxc6/4...dxc6/5. O-O

Ruy Lopez, Barendregt Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black kingb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black pawnb6 black kingc6 black pawnd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 black kingf1 white rookg1 white kingh1 black king1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez, Barendregt Variation

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Nxe5 is now a threat, because after Qd4, forking the knight and a pawn, Nf3, attacking the queen, Qxe4??, capturing the pawn, there is Re1! pinning the queen to the king. At this point, there are several moves, for example Bg4, pinning the knight, Bd6, protecting the pawn and developing the bishop, f6, also protecting the pawn and Qd6, protecting the pawn again. Bg4 is the most aggressive, pinning the knight, while the supporting Bd6 is also good. f6 looks ugly, but is playable now that white's light squared bishop is off the board.

Theory Table

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5 6 7
...

Bg4

h3

h5

=
...

f6

d4

exd4

Nxd4

Bd6

+/=
Bd6 =