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  3. /Ruy Lopez: Closed (C92)
C92

Ruy Lopez: Closed

Key moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Bb7

The Zaitsev Variation is one of the most important systems in the Closed Ruy Lopez. Black develops the bishop to b7, aiming for central counterplay.

History & Notable Players

Named after Igor Zaitsev, Karpov's trainer. It was Anatoly Karpov's main weapon with Black in many World Championship matches.

Top Players in this Opening

Karpov, Anatoly61 gamesSvidler,P38 gamesGeller, Efim P36 gamesBeliavsky, Alexander G35 gamesShirov,A32 gamesSpassky, Boris V31 gamesShort, Nigel D30 gamesTal, Mihail29 gamesFirouzja,Alireza29 gamesSmyslov, Vassily28 games

Related Openings

C90 - Ruy Lopez: Closed318C91 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation363C93 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov Defense182C94 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense57C95 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer650C96 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense276C97 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense170C98 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense90C99 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System236

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