Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System

Before the first move

The Chigorin Defense is one of the most respected and deeply studied systems in the Ruy Lopez. You will navigate a complex positional battle where White tries to control the center and build a kingside attack, while Black creates counterplay by expanding on the queenside and pressuring the d4-square.

1. e4White

White starts with e4, the most popular way to fight for a central advantage. By occupying the center immediately, White prepares rapid development and invites Black to define their defensive strategy.

1... e5Black · your move

Respond by pushing your pawn to e5. By mirroring White's move, you prevent White from playing d4 easily and establish your own foothold in the center of the board.

Other paths here: f6 (Barnes Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense) · h6 (Carr Defense) · f5 (Duras Gambit)

2. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, putting immediate pressure on e5. This is far more common than alternatives like the Center Game with d4 or the Alapin with Ne2, as it develops a piece with a threat.

Other paths here: Ke2 (Bongcloud Attack) · d4 (Center Game) · c4 (English Opening: The Whale) · Ne2 (King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening)

2... Nc6Black · your move

Bring your knight to c6 to defend your e5-pawn. This active development also prepares to contest the center and supports your future pawn breaks.

Other paths here: d5 (Elephant Gambit) · Qe7 (Gunderam Defense) · Bc5 (King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit) · f6 (King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense)

3. Bb5White

White plays Bb5, the signature move of the Spanish Opening. Unlike the Italian Game with Bc4 or the Scotch with d4, this move puts indirect pressure on the e5-pawn by attacking its defender.

Other paths here: Nxe5 (Irish Gambit) · g3 (King's Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky) · c4 (King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening) · b4 (King's Pawn Game: Pachman Wing Gambit)

3... a6Black · your move

Push your pawn to a6 to ask the bishop what it wants to do. This forces White to either trade the bishop for your knight or retreat it along the a4-e8 diagonal.

Other paths here: Bb4 (Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense) · g5 (Ruy Lopez: Brentano Gambit) · a5 (Ruy Lopez: Bulgarian Variation) · Nge7 (Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense)

4. Ba4White

White opts for Ba4, keeping the tension. The Exchange Variation with Bxc6 is a major alternative where White ruins Black's pawn structure in exchange for the bishop pair.

Other paths here: Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation) · Bc4 (Spanish: 3...a6 4.Bc4)

4... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This move attacks the e4-pawn and prepares for kingside castling, following the basic principles of opening development.

Other paths here: Nd4 (Ruy Lopez: Bird's Defense Deferred) · Bb4 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Alapin's Defense Deferred) · b5 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Caro Variation) · Bc5 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Classical Defense Deferred)

5. O-OWhite

White castles, prioritizing king safety. White could also play d3 for a slower game or Nc3, but castling is the most ambitious way to prepare for a central breakthrough.

Other paths here: d3 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation) · Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Bayreuth Variation) · c3 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit) · d4 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Mackenzie Variation)

5... Be7Black · your move

Develop your bishop to e7. This modest-looking move is very solid; it prepares for castling and protects the f6-knight without creating any weaknesses.

Other paths here: g6 (Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation) · d5 (Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit) · Bc5 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation) · b5 (Spanish: 5.O-O b5)

6. Re1White

White plays Re1, a standard prophylactic move. This solidifies the center and waits for Black to commit. Alternatives like d4 or Qe2 lead to more immediate tactical clashes.

Other paths here: d4 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center Attack) · d3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation) · Nc3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Morphy Attack) · Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Delayed Exchange)

6... b5Black · your move

Push your pawn to b5. This breaks the pin on your knight and forces the white bishop to move again, while also gaining space for your queenside pieces.

Other paths here: d6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation)

7. Bb3White

White moves the bishop to b3. This is the only logical retreat, as White wants to keep this powerful piece active rather than allowing it to be traded or shut out.

7... d6Black · your move

Push your pawn to d6. This solidifies your e5-pawn and opens a path for your light-squared bishop, preparing to finish your development.

Other paths here: O-O (Ruy Lopez: Closed) · Bb7 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Trajkovic Counterattack)

8. c3White

White plays c3, a key foundational move. It builds a support for d4 and creates a 'home' for the light-squared bishop. The Rosen Attack with d4 is a sharper, less common alternative.

Other paths here: d4 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Rosen Attack)

8... O-OBlack · your move

Castle your king to safety. Your development is almost complete, and your king is now tucked away behind a solid wall of pawns.

Other paths here: Bg4 (Spanish: Closed 7...d6 8.c3 Bg4) · Na5 (Spanish: Closed 7...d6 8.c3 Na5)

9. h3White

White plays h3, preventing any Bg4 ideas. This is standard in the Spanish. White could also play d4 immediately, known as the Yates Variation, but h3 is more patient.

Other paths here: Bc2 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Lutikov Variation) · a3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation) · d4 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation)

9... Na5Black · your move

Move your knight to a5. You are attacking the important light-squared bishop on b3 and preparing to expand with c5, the hallmark of the Chigorin Defense.

Other paths here: Bb7 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Flohr System) · Nd7 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Karpov Variation) · Be6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Kholmov Variation) · Re8 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev System)

10. Bc2White

White saves the bishop. This retreat is mandatory in the Chigorin, as losing the 'Spanish Bishop' would give Black the bishop pair and a much easier game strategically.

10... c5Black · your move

Push your pawn to c5. You are challenging White's control of the d4-square and gaining more space on the queenside for your queen and rooks.

Other paths here: d5 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit) · c6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Rossolimo Defense)

11. d4White

White finally plays d4. This is the culmination of White's setup, creating a massive pawn center that Black must now find a way to undermine or stabilize.

11... Qc7Black · your move

Bring your queen to c7. This move defends the e5-pawn, eyes the c-file, and prepares to connect your rooks, maintaining a flexible and solid position.

Other paths here: Nc6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko Variation) · Nd7 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense)

12. Nbd2White

White plays Nbd2, continuing the classic Spanish knight maneuver. White could also choose to close the center with d5, but keeping the tension is usually more challenging for Black.

12... cxd4Black · your move

Capture the pawn on d4. By trading your c-pawn for White's d-pawn, you open the c-file for your queen and rook, creating concrete counterplay.

Other paths here: Nc6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense) · Bd7 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System)

13. cxd4White

White recaptures, and the central tension is partially resolved. White has a strong pawn on d4, but Black has an open c-file and active pieces, setting the stage for a long fight.

Where you stand

The position is dynamically balanced. White will maneuver the d2-knight to f1 and g3 to pressure the kingside, while Black will use the open c-file and the a5-knight to create threats on the queenside. Both sides must balance their central control with their respective flank attacks in this deeply strategic middlegame.

• d2-g3 Knight maneuvers to g3 for kingside pressure.
• a8-c8 Rook claims the open c-file for counterplay.
• c1-e3 Bishop develops to support d4 and e4.
• a5-c6 Knight returns to c6 to pressure d4.