Talk:Ruy Lopez

Open Games Bad Link

The Open Games link (4th link under History) goes to an open source software Wiki entry instead of Open (pawn structure) Chess games, which is an entirely different thing (2. Nf3 3.d4 is the "Open" Sicilian, having nothing to do with open source software code). Open games are sharp with complex variations in most lines. I can't find an Open Games (chess) entry in the project yet.

After Main line alternative 5...Be7 Nc3

How about this move? i believe previous world champion spassky played this move a couple of times in '88

Smyslov Defense

Hello, for the Smyslov defense it says to play: 4.c3 a6. Then says 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 gives White the advantage. But what about that Bishop? It's on b5, so the a6 pawn is threatening it, but the Bishop is completely ignored. There should, at least, be an explanation.--Dark Charles 23:37, 8 May 2011 (UTC)

It might not be worded as clearly as it could be. Black is good after 4.c3 a6, so White should play 4.d4 instead of 4.c3. After 4.d4 Black continues 4...exd4 and the a-pawn hasn't moved so the white bishop on b5 is not threatened. Quale (talk) 00:17, 9 May 2011 (UTC)

LOL, I'm sorry. It looks like it was mainly me. 4 twice... Well, thanks for clearing it up for me at least.--Dark Charles 05:05, 9 May 2011 (UTC)

Berlin Defense, Fishing Pole Trap

Reading through the section on the Berlin Defense, I noticed there was no mention of the fishing pole trap. I am unfamiliar with the style of formating and am an amateur at chess, so I shouldn't dare write it myself, but I thought it was at least notable enough to deserve a mention. A famous game involving the fishing pole was the Baltier Browne upset in a 40 simul. NM Brian Wall is very familiar with the fishing pole as well, having used it many hundreds of times. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Daemonowner (talk • contribs) 08:58, 15 August 2011 (UTC)

Interesting question, although the move leading up to it (4...Ng4) is considered dubious, so I'll leave it up to other Wikipedians to decide if it is worth including or not. The Fishing Pole trap is near-identical to a trap that Black can spring from lines that have been used frequently at GM level. 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 (discussed in the Exchange Spanish article- if 7.hxg4 hxg4 8.Nxe5??, then 8...Qh4 9.f3 g3). The Deferred Steinitz piece sacrifice line 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 also gives White the opportunity to err with 7.hxg4 hxg4 8.Nh2 Qh4. I've had the pleasure of catching opponents out in both of those lines in casual games.Tws45 (talk) 16:10, 8 November 2011 (UTC)

In additioin, the Fishing Pole type trap can arise in various lines of Bird's Defence, e.g. 3...Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.0-0 h5!? (which has also been played at GM level), sometimes with ...Ng4 to follow. Tws45 (talk) 13:22, 20 November 2011 (UTC)

Where are the two white knights?

Is it something wrong with my browser? I see no white knights on the board. They should be at b1 and f3. Michael Hardy (talk) 04:19, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

I see them. Sometimes in the past I've seen some of the chess piece images disappear for a while. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 04:32, 2 December 2011 (UTC)