Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...f5

Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defence
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 pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 white bishopc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black pawng5 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 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h

Schliemann Defence

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The first thing to note about the Schliemann Defence, formerly known as the Jaenisch Gambit, is that it isn't a gambit. Despite the apparent similarity to the Latvian Gambit, the knight on c6 changes everything. Obviously, White can't capture on e5 immediately, and capturing on e5 after exchanging on c6 doesn't win a pawn either because the usual Ruy Lopez rejoinder ...Qd4 wins it straight back. Capturing the other way with 4.exf5 is possible but then 4...e4 would embarrass the f3-knight and lead, surprisingly, to a draw by repetition after only 7 moves.

So rather than blast the Schliemann Defence off the board, White must try to act natural and exploit the weakened Black kingside further down the line. The two moves that contribute to White's development while also defending the e4-pawn are

  • 4. Nc3, the Berger Variation, and
  • 4. d3, the Safe Variation.

Black's next move is going to be ...fxe4, so choosing between these two moves amounts to choosing which piece you want to recapture with. A knight on e4 would immediately invite ...d5, to which White can react with a hair-raising temporary piece sacrifice. A pawn on e4 creates the prospect of preventing Black from castling with the remarkable manoeuvre Qd1-d3-c4. A little theory goes a long way in both cases!

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5
4 5 6 7 8 9
1 Nc3
fxe4
Nxe4
d5
Nxe5
dxe4
Nxc6
Qg5
Qe2
Nf6
f4
Qh4+
+/=
2 d4
fxe4
Nxe5
Nxe5
dxe5
c6
Nc3
cxb5
Nxe4
d5
exd6
Nf6
3 d3
Nf6
exf5
Bc5
Nc3
O-O
O-O
Nd4
Nxe5
d5
Nf3
c6
4 exf5
e4
Qe2
Qe7
Bxc6
dxc6
Nd4
Qe5
Nf3
Qe7
Nd4
Qe5
=

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References

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