THE SPANISH TORTURE

Chess teachers are often asked "What's the strongest opening?" The answer is very simple. This one. It's not that easy to understand but well worth the effort.

It starts like this.

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-b5 (Diagram)

It's called the RUY LOPEZ or SPANISH OPENING. Ruy Lopez was a 16th century Spanish priest who wrote about this opening. He also advised "Always place the board so that the sun shines in your opponent's eyes". Good advice, but the opening's even better. It's often called the SPANISH TORTURE because White can torture his opponent for a long time if he knows how.

What's the big idea? White ATTACKS the Knight which DEFENDS the e-pawn. He's hoping one of two things will happen. Either Black will spend the whole game tied down to the defence of his e-pawn, or he will have to exchange it off and give up the centre.

At your level, the main thing you have to learn is what happens in different positions when White tries to win the Black e-pawn. And, if Black plays Ng8-f6 at some point, what happens when Black tries to win White's e-pawn.

But first, a game where Black had no idea what was going on.

3... Ng8-f6

A good move, THREATENING the Pawn on e4.

4. 0-0

White ignores it for the moment to get on with his development. He hopes that if Black takes the e-pawn he will end up in TROUBLE ON THE E-FILE.

There's nothing wrong with playing Nb1-c3 instead but castling gives Black a lot more problems.

4... d7-d5?

This is already the losing move. YOU CAN'T DO THIS IN THE RUY LOPEZ! In most openings starting e2-e4 e7-e5 it's fairly easy for Black to get in d7-d5. In this opening it's a lot harder. The immediate point is that the Black d-pawn is now PINNED!

5. e4xd5 Qd8xd5

Not liking Nf6xd5 because White can play Nf3xe5 (the Knight on c6 is PINNED, remember). But this is even worse. DON'T BRING YOUR QUEEN OUT TOO SOON!

6. Nb1-c3

DEVELOPING and gaining TIME by THREATENING the Queen.

6... Qd5-e6 (Diagram)

Can you find a good move for White here? There are several to choose from. White can already win a Pawn by playing Nf3xe5? Why? Can Black play Nc3xe5? No - the Knight's PINNED! What happens if Qe6xe5? White plays Rf1-e1, PINNING and winning the Queen (TROUBLE ON THE E-FILE!). You see already how important it is for White to castle early in this opening.

But instead White chose an equally good move, trying to open up the position.

7. d2-d4 e5-e4 (Diagram)

Keeping the e-file closed. Choose a move for White here.

8. d4-d5

White's not bothered about his Knight: if Black ever takes it he'll open the e-file and allow Rf1-e1. Instead he plays a PAWN FORK.

8... Qe6-d6

9. d5xc6 e4xf3?

Losing everything, but the game was already beyond salvation: for instance 9... b7xc6 10. Qd1xd6 Bf8xd6 11. Bb5xc6+ FORKING King and Rook.

10. c6xb7+

DISCOVERED CHECK!

10... Ke8-e7

11. Qd1xd6+

Black resigned - White's next move will be b7xa8=Q!

In our next game, Black has more idea what's happening, but doesn't last much longer. This game will also teach you some useful attacking techniques.

White: Rev. Armstrong Black: JCM

Irish Correspondence Championship 1913

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-b5 a7-a6

The usual move. White is well advised NOT to win a pawn here: after 4. Bb5xc6 b7xc6 5. Nf3xe5 Black has a QUEEN FORK - Qd8-d4, winning back the pawn with the better position. For more about this variation see TROUBLE ON THE E-FILE. Bb5xc6 is the easier move to learn, but more popular is...

4. Bb5-a4 Ng8-f6

5. 0-0 Nf6xe4 (Diagram)

The OPEN VARIATION. Black CAN get away with taking the Pawn here, but he has to be careful.

6. Rf1-e1

The simplest way to get the pawn back. Most strong players prefer d2-d4, but after Rf1-e1 it's very easy for Black to go wrong.

6... Ne4-c5

7. Nb1-c3 Nc5xa4

Running into TROUBLE on the e-file. It was safer to play Bf8-e7 and 0-0.

8. Nf3xe5

White doesn't bother about taking the Knight - he's seen a better way to get the piece back.

8... Nc6xe5

9. Re1xe5+ Bf8-e7 (Diagram)

Can you work out White's best move here?

The obvious move is Nc3xa4, but that leaves the White Knight on the rim (A KNIGHT ON THE RIM IS DIM!) and gives Black time to castle safely.

There's something much better. Do you see the PIN on the e-file? What do you if you've got a PIN? You attack the PINNED piece with everything you've got. What's the best way to ATTACK the Bishop on e7?

10. Nc3-d5

This is the move! The Bishop cannot move, nor can Black defend it again, so the best he can to is evacuate his King.

10... 0-0

11. Nd5xe7+ Kg8-h8

12. Qd1-h5

Black's King is rather short of defenders so White launches a swift attack.

12... d7-d6 (Diagram)

Overlooking the THREAT but White had a winning attack anyway. You might like to look at the variation 12... g7-g6 13. Qh5-h6 d7-d6 14. Re5-h5! (THREATENING the KISS OF DEATH on h7) 14... g6xh5 15. Qh6-f6#

Think CCT and then tell me what White played here.

Found it yet? What does the first C stand for? CHECK! There are only two to look at, and if you look closely enough you'll find:

13. Qh5xh7+

A QUEEN SACRIFICE to force mate!

13... Kh8xh7

14. Re5-h5#

Our final example was won by a Prime Minister. No it wasn't Tony Blair or John Major, and it certainly wasn't Margaret Thatcher. It was won by a chap called Andrew Bonar Law, who was Prime Minister for a short time in the early 1920s. But when he played this game he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.

White: Andrew Bonar Law Black: Brian Harley

London 1920

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-b5 Ng8-f6

4. 0-0 Nf6xe4

5. d2-d4 (Diagram)

Rf1-e1 would have been similar to the previous game. White prefers the more complicated option. Black tries to hang on to his pawn - a dangerous policy. The usual reply to this move is Ne4-d6 at once.

5... e5xd4

6. Nf3xd4 Ne4-d6

7. Rf1-e1+ Bf8-e7

The Bishop is now PINNED.

8. Qd1-g4

White takes the opportunity to THREATEN the Black g-pawn. Black now decides he can win a piece.

8... Nc6xd4

9. Qg4xd4 Nd6xb5

10. Qd4xg7 Rh8-f8 (Diagram)

OK, it's White to play. What would you suggest?

11. Bc1-h6

What's the THREAT: The Black Bishop, remember, is PINNED so Qh6xf8 would be MATE! Black's Knight is offside and his other pieces undeveloped so all he can do is make room for his King.

11... d7-d5

12. Qg7xf8+ Ke8-d7

13. Qf8xf7

PINNING the Bishop and THREATENING Bh6-g5, so Black unpins, but at the same time brings his King further out into the open.

13... Kd7-d6 (Diagram)

How does White finish off his opponent?

14. Re1xe7

Perhaps not so easy to see. What's White's next move after Qd8xe7?

The King and Queen are now on the same diagonal. Can we get a Bishop there? Yes - Bh6-f8 PINS and wins the Black Queen. Black resigned after Re1xe7. A pretty good game for a Prime Minister.

1. Learn and remember the opening. Practice it as much as you can.

2. If you're White castle quickly. Try to play d2-d4 quickly to get rid of his e-pawn. Rf1-e1 is often a useful move (unless he has a Bishop on c5).

3. If Black plays Bf8-c5 you can either use the FORK TRICK or ask Charlie to help you form a pawn centre: c2-c3 followed by d2-d4.

4. Don't worry too much about defending your e-pawn. You will usually be able to get it back.

5. Stop and work out every move what happens if White captures the Pawn on e5.