I don't claim to be an expert in this line but I am quite sure that the idea is once ...d6 is played by exchanging Black is forced to capture with the b pawn.
Note in the regular exchange line after 4 B:c6 d:c6 is usually played.
What's the motivation behind 5. Bxc6 in the Modern Steinitz Defense?
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aansel wrote:
I don't claim to be an expert in this line but I am quite sure that the idea is once ...d6 is played by exchanging Black is forced to capture with the b pawn.
Note in the regular exchange line after 4 B:c6 d:c6 is usually played.
You may be right. I just don't know why recapturing with the b-pawn is so undesireable for black as to warrent giving up the two bishops.
In the normal exchange variation, black recaptures with the d-pawn for tactical reasons I believe. I may be wrong about this, but if black could recapture with the b-pawn and still regain his center pawn that would probably be preferable (since he would not be giving white a k-side pawn majority), but doing so only allows him to get back a wing pawn for his center pawn.
Correction - I looked up the Exchange Variation w/ 4...bxc6, and it looks as though the reason that is not played is because it transposes to this very line a tempo down for black after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. Nf3 d6
What is white's move after bxc6?
gimly wrote:
What is white's move after bxc6?
6. d4 is usual.
Oct 14, 2010
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#7
After black captures with the b pawn he will have a weak a pawn as well as the doubled pawns on the c file. He now has pawn islands instead of 2 so his pawn structure is much worse than it is in the normal exchange variation. As to whether this compensates for the loss of tempo and the 2 bishops advantage? Ha - well its not the most popular line is it????
Oct 15, 2010
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#8
Errrrm there is no knight at f6. The above mentioned line was:
Actually it does make it a lot easier to see what is going on with the diagram...
The motivation is to simply give white better pawn structure and to be able to play d4 on the next move. This is the line I play most against the Modern/Improved Steinitz ... I also sometimes like to play 5 c4 . There are 2 moves more popular than 5 Bxc6 : the most popular is 5 c3 , with 5 0-0 second most popular and 5 Bxc6 3rd. Interestingly, the most popular 5 c3 scores the same % as does 5 Bxc6.
In the Modern Steinitz Defense to the Ruy Lopez there is a line that runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bxc6.
What is the motivation for this unprovoked exchange?