This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Opening Name: Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Description: The Anti-Marshall variation in the Closed Ruy Lopez arises when White avoids the main Marshall Attack by playing 8. a4 instead of the immediate 8. c3 and 9. d4. The move 8. a4 challenges Black’s queenside expansion, specifically the b5 pawn, aiming to restrict Black’s typical counterplay and prevent the freeing ...b4 push.
Characteristic of this move: The move 8. a4 is characteristic for its preventative nature, stopping Black’s queenside pawn advance and keeping tension on the queenside. It’s a subtle, strategic move rather than a direct tactical strike.
Attacking or Defensive: For White, this move is more strategic and somewhat defensive, aiming to limit Black’s counterplay rather than launching an immediate attack. For Black, it signals a need to find active plans elsewhere, often in the center or kingside, since queenside expansion is restrained.
Center Control: While this line does not involve an immediate central pawn break, White’s setup supports eventual central play with moves like c3 and d4. The opening maintains a classical contest for the center, but the focus of 8. a4 is more on queenside positional control than direct central confrontation at this stage.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 2 - Move #37 black
You can also discover how top players used Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.