any thoughts on this opening?

i'll call it purple death

Hmm.

You're not sacrificing a Bishop. You are trading it for the knight to wreck the pawn structure in similar fashion to the Trompowsky Attack.

A number of GMs played the Exchange Ruy Lopez, including the nut job Bobby Fischer.

Giving up the Bishop for the Knight is not the issue. 5.b3 though is useless and the proof shows there with Black scoring an overall 72% after 5.b3 and winning 57% of all games.

5.b3 just goes to show that White is clueless what he is doing. White should castle here, and follow up with either 6.d3 or 6.d4, depending on which line Black plays, like 6.d3 against 5...Bg4 and 6.d4 against 5...f6. If Black's choice allows for the early d4, White should play it before Black gets in ...c5. White wants to trade that d-pawn for Black's e-pawn, creating a 4-on-3 majority on both sides of the board. White's is a clean 4-on-3 on the kingside, Black's is a crippled 4-on-3 on the queenside. White should not be voluntarily moving his queenside pawns. He should only move a queenside pawn when forced to, or after Black has committed to moving his such that Black can never create a passer. Best he will get is a trade where White maybe gets rid of the b-pawns and Black is left with a and double-c vs a and c.

All 5.b3 does is show that White parroted a few moves in the exchange Ruy, but clearly has zero actual understanding of the opening or what the point is behind it. Ideally, White wants to trade d-pawn for e-pawn and get down to a king and pawn ending, which would almost certainly win for White if achieved.

There are more than 13 thousand recorded master games in this line, but don't let that bother you.

Well, he's probably talking about something else or his rating. Anyway, I wonder what does he mean or is thinking. Thanks

It doesn't take long to understand the opening. I'm just providing an alternative line.

Also the win rate is low bc it is almost never played. But if someone knew how to play it, it could be a weapon. It's also very flexible, allowing White to either castle short or potentially long later, and White can get creative with pawn advancements. White will also likely get control of the center.

nah you would see a queen move instead

Actually, I disagree with people on this thread.

I think the move 5.b3 is a reasonable move which carries a lot of venom in it.

The biggest issue is I can’t seem to find a good solution to Black move 5…c5.

I think 5…c5 would be a critical line.

Black would have to find the move c5 or Black position will start to get really bad really fast.

The move c5 saves Black from being worse.

It’s a positional battle and both players are going to have to get aggressive to prevent themselves from getting put into a Positional Bind.

White also has a deadly Queen trap in the line.

Pretty much nobody was talking about specifically the b3 move, so I have no idea who you disagree with.

I was disagreeing with Posts #2, #3, & #5

Post #2 was show casing a Database Explorer which shows the move 5.b3 preforming badly for white. It shows Black with high win rate potentially trying to discredit the move.

However, I think the sample size is to small to really judge a move like 5.b3 so I disagree with the database explorer being a credible source in determining the viability of the move.

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Post #3 was saying the position being shown isn’t much and looks like 250 Elo play.

However, I disagree again because I feel a strong chess player could play a move like 5.b3 with deadly intentions.

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Post #5 was suggesting the move 5.b3 is a “clueless” move which doesn’t match the needs of the position.

However, I disagree with this as well and I believe it matches the needs of the position very well.

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The biggest obstacle to me from my chess eyes is the move 5…c5.

Black has to find the move c5.

And if Black does find the move c5, White might find themselves is awkward middle game position.

It will not be an End Game 4 vs. 3 Pawn battle similar to what Thriller Fan was suggesting.

Instead, it will be a Chaotic Positional Middle Game which isn’t the typical way people play the Exchange variation.

However, It doesn’t really have to be.

If a person wants an exciting Middle Game over a Pawn Majority End Game, They have the right to play that way.

We would just say it’s different play style or an Alternative way of playing the position.

You have no idea as usual, that much is true.

Good points. I can explore the c5 line. At the very least it's solid for beginner-intermediate play, though it has weaknesses which advanced players can exploit.

queenside flank moves are very rarely harmonious with king pawn openings (that is e4 with b3, or e5 and b6). Usually its because they are too slow and leave holes on f4

it's definitely slow, but can you explain how it leaves holes on f4? i'm obviously not as knowledgeable about openings as you are, so i'd be curious to know.

Dude. You have dug yourself a hole. Time to stop digging.

I don't think it is terrible but not great either

Not having analyzed this at all - I think it looks reasonable for a low theory opening. When there is no d-pawn, the e-pawn gets weaker and a queenside fianchetto can make sense. But I doubt that you can play this for an advantage as white.

Words like that have no meaning to me.

Agree myself.

It sorta just increases pressure on the e pawn, and a defense like f6 from black will lead to a pawn storm on the kingside in addition to having to deal with queenside structural weaknesses for black.