Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-76052-0335 / Kohls, Ulrich / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Fischer's amazing game triplet with the Ruy Lopez exchange variation

CM Kingscrusher-YouTube

22 Mar 20221,604 viewsEnglish (US)

Chess Analysis Opening Tactics Chess Personalities

Havana Olympiad 1966 saw Fischer's amazing use of the Ruy Lopez exchange variation

Hi all

Bobby Fischer had an amazing trio of games at the Havana Olympiad 1966 with the Ruy Lopez exchange variation. He made his opponent look like Bunnies. It seemed he had quite a few ideas to make use of, giving White a nagging advantage. In all three games, he took this advantage to go on and win.

Game 1 of 3 vs Portisch

https://youtu.be/DbDFJqHzeWY

Early d4

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/8GcnNx4A#12

exd4 played

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/8GcnNx4A#12

A little bit of pressure here after Na5

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/8GcnNx4A#19

Final position

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/8GcnNx4A#67

Game 2 of 3 vs Gligoric

https://youtu.be/A7tTHKVgPmw

f6 played by Black

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/1yomiDFR#10

c3 played

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/1yomiDFR#13

A classic "Pawn duo" situation with pawns on d4 and e4

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/1yomiDFR#21

Final position

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/1yomiDFR#49

Game 3 of 3 vs Zerquera

https://youtu.be/85qM1lVFkYw

c3 played

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/ZwOOLrFT#13

A naughty little relative pin rebellious tactic

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/ZwOOLrFT#19

Final position

https://lichess.org/study/sH8gkUuq/ZwOOLrFT#61

Key takeaway points

The Ruy Lopez exchange variation can be a great way of getting an advantage
The exchange variation seems to avoid a tonne of opening theory which Black may have had in store
Even sidelines of "main lines" can be really dangerous in the right hands

Want to go further? Explore all my online chess courses at https://www.chessworld.net/online-chess-courses.asp – learn openings, tactics, strategy, and more.

Cheers, K