C61 Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation
C61 holds two named lines, all under the name Ruy Lopez. It leaves C60 (Ruy Lopez) with 3...Nd4. That final move, by the knight, attacks the knight on f3 and the bishop on b5. Of all other reference positions, the board of C40 (King’s Knight Opening) comes closest, four squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 3 | Bb5 | Nd4 |
Lines filed under C61
Both share their first six plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation | (the shared start itself) | 6 | |
| Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation | 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O Ne7 | 10 | White castled |
Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation
- 4.Nxd4 The knight on f3 takes the knight on d4, opening a line for the queen on d1, guarding the bishop on b5.
- 4...exd4 The e-pawn takes the knight on d4, covering c3 and e3.
- 5.O-O White castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d1, guarding the pawn on g2.
- 5...Ne7 The knight leaves g8 for e7, opening a line for the rook on h8.
The road to C61
- 1.e4 … 2.Nf3three earlier stops: B00, C20, C40
- 2...Nc6C44 Normal Variation
- 3.Bb5C60 Ruy Lopez
- 3...Nd4C61
The position after 3...Nd4
White has brought out the knight on f3 and bishop on b5; Black the knight on d4. White could capture with Bxd7+, Nxd4, Nxe5. Undefended and attacked: the pawn on e5. White is to move and has 31 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C44 | King’s Knight Opening: Normal Variation | four squares: f1, d4, b5, c6 |
| C50 | Italian Game | four squares: c4, d4, b5, c6 |
| C62 | Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense | four squares: d4, c6, d6, d7 |
| C63 | Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense | four squares: d4, f5, c6, f7 |
| C64 | Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation | four squares: d4, c5, c6, f8 |
| C65 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | four squares: d4, c6, f6, g8 |
| C70 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | four squares: d4, a6, c6, a7 |