"Trap" in the Ruy Lopez

I discovered this the other day. Please tell me why this would be bad for black.

I think this position is roughly equal.

I believe that after 5...Na5 White would play something different. This is the Morphy Defence - Wing Variation. White should castle here, but some players may play 6 Bxf7+ Kxf7 7 Nxe5+, though if you play accurately you should maintain your advantage.

Its always good for black when white plays bad moves.  This isn't a trap; its a player who is lost on sixth move of his opening, in a main line.

look at black's pawn structure.  White has traded off his light squared bishop while goading black into shutting down all of the light squares.  Essentially, white gets a free 2/3 open file, plus making the activation of black's light squared bishop more moves away than he'd like.

Simply 6 0-0 is theory and fine for white. This is called the counter-thrust variation I believe.

"I believe that after 5...Na5 White would play something different. This is the Morphy Defence - Wing Variation."

This isn't a bad line for Black at all, but you can't count on White playing the tempo losing 6.Bd5 which is not a good move.  0-0 is better, almost anything is better. edit -- *I see Reb beat me to the punch on this comment*

If memory serves (by no means a given in my case) Black doesn't immediately exchange N for B either. *edit* Indeed d6 is the mainline, giving us the classic black Ruy Lopez pawns.

Show me a person who is willing to play the ruy and NOT exchange given 3... a6 and I'll show you someone who will pick your wallet as soon as shake your hand.

 I often play the exchange variation but more often play 4 Ba4. Nothing wrong with either one.

The pawn to b5 starting the norwegian spanish is weak putting white somewhat ahead and the BD5 takes that advantage away. Loss of tempo move I think. Fritz lists it as the 10th best move.

Why not 6. Nxe5?

Huh?  Clever putdown, but the Exchange variation is a weaker choice.  Yeah yeah, Fischer blah blah, but look at the numbers -- White scores better with Ba4.

With Na5, black can gain a B for an N but in doing so loses time and gifts white an open file for his queen's rook. The trade-off is rather bad, and best avoided. White should avoid 6. Bd5? c6 7. Bb3 which clearly wastes time. Ignoring black and playing 6. O-O! is the most popular, and believed best.

6. Nxe5 is the other move worth considering (6. Bxf7+ is the move often tried as a refutation, but if anything, black may come out better). The critical line is 6. Nxe5 Nxb3 7. axb3 Qg5 8. Nf3! Qxg2 9. Rg1 Qh3 which gives white a slight advantage. (8. Ng4 d5! is equal)

All these people are giving out named defenses and positions, and I don't know what they are talking about... In my opinion, white now has a chance to get their rook out and about, while black will need to manuever around his pawns first. That's my opinion.

>>Renegade   \o/