1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
a6
4.Bxc6
The Spanish Exchange
4...dxc6
White exchanges the light-squared bishop early on to nick the black pawn structure
5.0-0
Threatening Nxe5 [5.Nxe5
Qd4
]
5...Bg4
Pinning the Nf3. ...f7-f6 is the more common response
6.h3
h5
7.d3
[7.hxg4??
hxg4
8.Nxe5
Qh4
9.f3
g3
]
7...Qf6
Applying more pressure to the pinned Nf3
8.Nbd2
[8.hxg4
hxg4
9.Ng5
Qh6
10.Nh3
Qh4
]
8...Ne7
idea Ng3-f4 or h4
9.Re1
Ng6
10.d4
[10.hxg4
hxg4
11.Nh2
Bc5
12.Ndf3
gxf3
13.Nxf3
Rh5
14.Be3
Nf4
15.Bxc5
Qh6-+
]
10...Bd6
[10...0-0-0?
11.hxg4
hxg4
12.Nh2
Rxh2
13.Qxg4+
check!]
11.hxg4
hxg4
12.Nh2
[12.Nxe5
Qh4
13.Kf1
Nf4
]
12...Rxh2
[12...exd4
13.e5
Bxe5
14.Nxg4+-
]
13.Qxg4
Rh4
[13...Qh4!?
]
14.Qf5
recommended by Fischer in his 60 Memorable Games
14...Ne7
[14...Rf4
15.Qxf6
Rxf6
16.Nf3
Kd7
17.Bg5+/=
]
15.Qxf6
gxf6
16.Nf3
White clearly has the better pawn structure
16...Rh5
17.Be3
Connecting the rooks and aiming to exchange the rooks on h1 after g3 and Kg2.
17...0-0-0
18.g3
Rdh8
19.dxe5
fxe5
20.Kg2
Kd7
Anticipating the endgame, bringing the king into the center
21.Rh1
Rxh1
22.Rxh1
Rxh1
23.Kxh1
The enfgame in the Spanish Exchange favors white because only white can create a passed pawn.
23...c5
24.Kg2
Nc6
25.c3
Stopping Nd4
25...b5
26.Nd2
c4
27.f4
idea f5 and g4-g5
27...exf4
28.gxf4
f6
29.Kg3
Ne7
To prevent Kg4-f5
30.Kg4
Ke6
31.Nf3
c5
32.f5+
Kd7
33.Bf4
Nc6
Aiming for a blockade on e5
34.Bxd6
Kxd6
35.Kf4
b4
Diagram A typical endgame in the Spanish Exchange. White has all the chances
36.e5+!
fxe5+
[36...Nxe5
37.Nxe5
fxe5+
38.Ke4
a5
39.f6
Ke6
40.f7
Kxf7
41.Kxe5+-
]
37.Ke4
Any move by the Black king of knight cedes the e5-pawn
37...a5
38.Nd2
a4
39.Nxc4+
Ke7
40.a3
bxa3
41.Nxa3
Kf6
42.Nc4
Ne7
43.Ne3
[43.Ne3
Nc6
44.Nd5+
Kf7
45.Nb6
and black's queenside pawns both fall.] 1-0