Roy Lopez help

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Agyamdadam

When I play the Ruy Lopez with white I always get screwed up by black's Bg4 ideas with the pin on my queen, and as far as I've been looking I haven't found any lines of it which could prevent that move without giving away a tempo to black and if not by the pin I get myself a disadvantage by that anyway. Can anyone suggest me a "forced" or "semi forced" line by white in the Ruy Lopez which prevents Bishop g4 plans by black without giving away too much?

KeSetoKaiba

In the Ruy Lopez, White thematically plays h3 early in many lines (based on how Black plays indicates just "how early"). In fact, the Ruy Lopez is one of the most famous openings where h3 serves a solid purpose (to prevent the annoying ...Bg4 pin). Many beginners mistakenly play weak moves like h3, a3, h6, or a6, early on instead of development of the pieces, or fighting for central control. Many beginners play these moves (usually) for the reason of preventing a Bishop on Knight pin, but this isn't as bad as most beginners think it is: they are simply uncomfortable with tension and pins in general. However, the ...Bg4 pin in the Ruy Lopez is especially annoying for White. True, h3 does weaken the Kingside ever so slightly, but the Ruy Lopez is one exception to this rule, where h3 is a good move. 

Play h3 early on as White to prevent this pin. happy.png

KeSetoKaiba

This is a game that gives an example of h3 being played. h3 shouldn't be played super early on; you should still develop, control the center, castle early (and follow other opening principles), but basically be on the look out for when Black wants to play ...Bg4 and simply play h3 one move earlier to prevent that dreaded pin.

KeSetoKaiba

 

KeSetoKaiba

There are probably better examples out there than what I scrambled to come up with, but I wanted you to have some examples to work with.

Also, give @ZionPureinHeart a big thanks for posting in this forum on short notice. I didn't realize that chess.com doesn't allow 3 consecutive posts from the same user (likely to deter spamming), so I asked my friend Zion to post something short, so I could give my third example. happy.png

KeSetoKaiba
Erictheblitzmaster wrote:

im the master of ruy lopez exchange variation.  Its my favorite.

Cool wink.png perhaps you can post some better example games than what I came up with in a scramble xD

KeSetoKaiba

sad.png I'm not that great at explaining it, but do you know how to get a pgn from any game? Once you have the game pgn (or FEN if for only the position and not the entire game), then you can use the chess-board-looking icon in your post to create a diagram. If you don't know how to get the game pgn, then you could just post the moves manually I suppose (example of manually posting: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 is the Ruy Lopez Opening).

KeSetoKaiba

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/how-to-post-a-game-2 

Here are pictures and everything to help you post diagrams in chess.com - what I can't help with, I can reroute to @batgirl happy.png

Caesar49bc

After getting my arse kicked over and over by a snarky 16 year old, who was a son of a professor at the university I was going to, in the 1990's, I gave up playing the e4 opening as white. He was especially good at the Roy Lopez, and also had a side hobby of studying traps. At 1300 USCF, I had zero chance of winning against the turd.

Too bad I wasn't as good as I am now. I'd eat the kid for lunch if he tried opening traps, although he'd probably get some through, I'd catch at least 80% of them on the cuff.

kindaspongey
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

This is a game that gives an example of h3 being played. ...

I think this is the famous line given in many books.

asher591
KeSetoKaiba
kindaspongey wrote:
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

This is a game that gives an example of h3 being played. ...

I think this is the famous line given in many books.

Yeah - I think it is too. I just wanted the forum OP to have an example and know that what I was claiming (h3 motif in the Ruy Lopez) is not only sound, but also thematic.

IMKeto

 

KeSetoKaiba

Thanks @IMBacon - even I learn when you post happy.png

p.s. I don't play the Ruy Lopez as White, but as Black I knew that 8.c3 was the "normal" move; it is nice to know the reason(s) why.

IMKeto
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

Thanks @IMBacon - even I learn when you post

p.s. I don't play the Ruy Lopez as White, but as Black I knew that 8.c3 was the "normal" move; it is nice to know the reason(s) why.

Like you I don't play the Roy...or Ruy.

This is just what i see in that position.  I very well could be wrong (yea i know...shocker), and hopefully someone better will come along, and straighten me out before i spread stupid.  Then again...maybe i just might be somewhat right. 

KeSetoKaiba
IMBacon wrote:
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

Thanks @IMBacon - even I learn when you post

p.s. I don't play the Ruy Lopez as White, but as Black I knew that 8.c3 was the "normal" move; it is nice to know the reason(s) why.

Like you I don't play the Roy...or Ruy.

This is just what i see in that position.  I very well could be wrong (yea i know...shocker), and hopefully someone better will come along, and straighten me out before i spread stupid.  Then again...maybe i just might be somewhat right. 

happy.png Looks right - you know, unless I am wrong. Fun fact about me: I am right 100% of the time, excluding when I am wrong. xD

IMKeto
KeSetoKaiba wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

Thanks @IMBacon - even I learn when you post

p.s. I don't play the Ruy Lopez as White, but as Black I knew that 8.c3 was the "normal" move; it is nice to know the reason(s) why.

Like you I don't play the Roy...or Ruy.

This is just what i see in that position.  I very well could be wrong (yea i know...shocker), and hopefully someone better will come along, and straighten me out before i spread stupid.  Then again...maybe i just might be somewhat right. 

 Looks right - you know, unless I am wrong. Fun fact about me: I am right 100% of the time, excluding when I am wrong. xD

No lie...there used to be a time in my life when i thought i was never wrong.  It was always someone else.  I would have made a great liberal.

KeSetoKaiba

xD Reminds me of a really old joke I heard years ago. "If any normal man is arrogant enough to think he is perfect, then he is wrong because he just lied. When? Just now, when they claimed to be perfect. If they still don't believe that you showed they are imperfect, then just ask their wife: she'll give you a list of his imperfections."

IMKeto
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

xD Reminds me of a really old joke I heard years ago. "If any normal man is arrogant enough to think he is perfect, then he is wrong because he just lied. When? Just now, when they claimed to be perfect. If they still don't believe that you showed they are imperfect, then just ask their wife: she'll give you a list of his imperfections."

Im pretty sure my ex-wife started that...

KeSetoKaiba
IMBacon wrote:
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

xD Reminds me of a really old joke I heard years ago. "If any normal man is arrogant enough to think he is perfect, then he is wrong because he just lied. When? Just now, when they claimed to be perfect. If they still don't believe that you showed they are imperfect, then just ask their wife: she'll give you a list of his imperfections."

Im pretty sure my ex-wife started that...

lol