C73 Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
C73 holds two named lines, all under the name Ruy Lopez. It leaves C71, a position of the same name, with 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4. That final move, by the d-pawn, covers c5 and e5 and opens a line for the bishop on c1 and the queen on d1. Of all other reference positions, the board of C68 (Exchange Variation) comes closest, six squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 3 | Bb5 | a6 |
| 4 | Ba4 | d6 |
| 5 | Bxc6+ | bxc6 |
| 6 | d4 |
Moves only C73 plays
Same as C71 up to 4...d6, then:
- 5.Bxc6+ The bishop on a4 takes the knight on c6, guarding the pawn on e4, giving check.
- 5...bxc6 The b-pawn takes the bishop on c6, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the bishop on c8.
- 6.d4 The d-pawn advances two squares to d4, covering c5 and e5, opening a line for the bishop on c1 and the queen on d1.
Lines filed under C73
Both share their first 11 plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies |
|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense | (the shared start itself) | 11 |
| Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense | 6...f6 | 12 |
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
- 6...f6 The f-pawn advances to f6, covering e5 and g5.
The road to C73
- 1.e4 … 3.Bb5five earlier stops: B00, C20, C40, C44, C60
- 3...a6C70 Morphy Defense
- 4...d6C71 Modern Steinitz Defense
- 6.d4C73
The position after 6.d4
White has brought out the knight on f3; Black has not yet moved a knight or bishop. Black has a half-open b-file. Black could capture with exd4. Black is to move and has 29 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C62 | Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense | seven squares: d2, d4, b5, a6, c6, a7, b7 |
| C70 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | seven squares: d2, d4, b5, c6, d6, b7, d7 |
| C74 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense | seven squares: c2, d2, c3, a4, d4, c6, b7 |
| B07 | King’s Pawn Game: Maróczy Defense | eight squares: f1, g1, f3, a6, c6, a7, b7, b8 |
| C41 | Philidor Defense | eight squares: f1, d2, d4, a6, c6, a7, b7, b8 |
| C69 | Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Normal Variation | eight squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, d2, d4, d6, b7 |
| C44 | King’s Knight Opening: Normal Variation | nine squares: f1, d2, d4, a6, c6, d6, a7, b7 … |