Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, white's initial move e4 is aimed at controlling the center of the board and getting the pieces into active positions. The pawn on e4 is supported by the knight on f3 which is ready to jump into action and threaten any of black's pieces that come within range. This move also opens up lines for the light-squared bishop, enabling it to become more active in the middle game. In sum, e4 is a strong move that creates pressure and sets the tone for white's attacking play.

Playing e5 in response to e4 is a common move in chess, and it mirrors white's effort to control the center of the board. By placing a pawn on e5, black hopes to gain a share of the central squares and to free up his own pieces. This move also helps to create a more open game, which can favor black's more active pieces, such as the knights and bishops. At the same time, by developing a pawn to e5, black is able to prepare for the quick activation of the queen's knight to support the defense of the central squares.

Playing Nf3 in response to e5 is a standard move aimed at reinforcing white's control of the central squares. The knight is a flexible piece that can both attack and defend, and by bringing it into action, White is preparing to develop many of his other pieces effectively. Additionally, Nf3 provides an attack on black's pawn on e5, putting pressure on the pawn and forcing Black to make decisions about how to defend it. This move can also help set up potential knight forks later in the game, where the knight can simultaneously attack two enemy pieces at once.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, playing Nc6 in response to Nf3 is a natural move for Black, as it challenges White's control of the central squares and helps to develop Black's own pieces. By placing the knight on c6, Black gains a hold on the important d4 square, which can be useful for later pawn breaks or piece maneuvers. The knight on c6 also supports Black's pawn on d5, and can be used to block potential White pawn advances. Additionally, it prepares for a possible kingside pawn push by Black to create more space and lead to an active game.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, playing Bb5 in response to Nc6 is a standard move that puts pressure on Black's position. The bishop attacks the knight on c6 and pins it to the king, which limits Black's options for development. Furthermore, the bishop on b5 can be used to capture the knight on c6, forcing Black to sacrifice a pawn or to move the knight away, which can disrupt Black's pawn structure. Another benefit of Bb5 is that it helps White to gain control of the d4 square, which can be used as a platform for potential future pawn pushes or to support White's knights.

Playing a6 in response to Bb5 is a common move in the Ruy Lopez, aimed at preventing the bishop from moving to b3 and pinning the knight on c6. This move also forces the bishop to retreat to a4 or c2, which can be beneficial for Black's development. At the same time, a6 prepares Black for future plan of pushing the b-pawn forward, which can help gain space on the queenside and create more options for Black's pieces. Additionally, a6 can prevent potential knight jumps into b5 square in some variations, which can prove to be quite advantageous for Black.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, playing Ba4 in response to a6 is a natural move for White, which allows White to maintain his pressure on Black's position. The bishop on a4 indirectly attacks the knight on c6, which is often the defender of Black's central pawn on e5. Furthermore, the bishop on a4 pins the pawn on b5, making it more difficult for Black to challenge White's control of the central squares. Additionally, Ba4 helps White to gain a better position, providing more room for the development of his other pieces and preparing for future pawn moves. Lastly, it can also act as a prelude to playing a pawn to c3, creating a more secure position for the bishop on a4 and ensuring the pawn chain is solid.

Playing Nf6 in response to Ba4 is a standard move in the Ruy Lopez that helps Black gain more control over the center of the board. The knight on f6 is able to apply pressure on White's e4 pawn while simultaneously supporting Black's own central pawn on e5. Furthermore, placing the knight on f6 helps to prepare pawn moves like d6, which ensure the knight has support and open up potential diagonal avenues for Black's dark-squared bishop. Another benefit of Nf6 is that it helps to develop Black's pieces, allowing more flexibility in future responses to White's moves. Finally, the knight on f6 keeps the momentum alive in the opening among the pieces, a crucial factor in a game where every tempo counts.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, castling kingside (O-O) is a natural move for White that helps to secure the king's safety and connect the rooks. By moving the king to g1, White can place the king behind a pawn shield and out of harm's way. Another benefit of castling is that it helps the rooks to be connected, which allows for better coordination in the middle and end games. The decision to castle may also serve as a psychological pressure point of sorts, as the white king is thus off-center and over time it becomes harder for black to build up a decisive attack over the open lines. It is important to remember, however, that castling does create some weaknesses on the kingside, which Black may try to exploit later on.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, playing Be7 in response to O-O is a standard move that helps Black to prepare for the middle game and establish a solid position. The bishop on e7 develops a piece and adds support to Black's central pawn on e5. It also lets Black connect the rooks, which can be useful for coordination. Playing Be7 allows Black to potentially play f5, creating more space and counterattacking in the center, or prepare for the a kingside pawn storm. Another benefit is that the bishop on e7 becomes an active piece in the middle game and can be used to target White's weak pawns.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, playing Re1 in response to Be7 is a natural move for White, which reinforces the pressure on Black's central e5 pawn while preparing for a potential push of the d4 pawn. With the rook on e1, White's queen and bishop are freed to move around the board without fear of discovering attacks. This move also helps White connect the rooks and provides the opportunity for the creation of an open file for the rook on e1 in the middle or end game. Lastly, this move can also work towards controlling the center of the board as well and preparing the king for any future potential pawn pushes from Black.

Playing b5 in response to Re1 is a thematic move in the Ruy Lopez, which can help Black to gain more space on the queenside and create potential attacking chances. The move also prevents the knight on c3 from jumping to b5 which can threaten to capture the bishop on a7. Furthermore, it adds support to Black's pawn on c6 and prepares for future pawn moves on the queenside, potentially opening lines for Black's rooks. It can also aim to drive away the White bishop on a4, which may have a negative impact on White's pawn structure, or force White to make a tough decision that requires further development of his pieces. Despite its advantages, b5 can leave the a6 pawn vulnerable to attack and must be played with caution.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, playing Bb3 in response to b5 is a natural move that allows for the bishop to be positioned in a way to support the queen-side pawns and be protected by the b2 pawn while putting pressure on Black's e5 pawn. Moreover, the bishop on b3 has the potential to become a menace to Black's queenside-pawn structure and potentially take control of the c4-square, which is often a central square that is vital for maneuvering in the middle game. In addition to that, it deprives the knight on c6 from the chance to jump to d4, which would aim for the exchange of the poorly placed white bishop. The move helps White gain a better position with more attacking potential and supports White's aim of slowing Black's pawn advances.

Playing d6 in response to Bb3 is a common move in the Ruy Lopez, which aims to solidify Black's central pawn structure and create a solid foundation for further development. The move also supports Black's pawn on e5 and allows Black's light-squared bishop to be developed, which in turn exacerbates pressure in the center. Furthermore, it helps to control the center of the board and restrict the activity of White's pieces. By playing d6, Black also prepares to launch an attack with a kingside pawn push, which can potentially lead to greater control over the center and a more active position for Black's pieces. In addition, this move also indirectly prepares space for Black's remaining pieces such as the Queen and rooks to manoeuvre efficiently.

Playing c3 in response to d6 is a standard move in the Ruy Lopez, often seen in closed Ruy Lopez variations. It is primarily aimed at supporting the central d4 pawn, which fortifies White's control of the center of the board while restricting Black's pawn advances. This move can also provide an option for White to push the pawn to d4 and create pressure on Black's central pawn. Furthermore, c3 prepares for the activation of White's queen’s knight, avoids potential pins by pieces such the black bishop on c5, or forces it to retreat. Additionally, c3 can help in supporting a kingside pawn storm, where it may be used to push the b4 pawn forward, fixing the c5 pawn on its original square, or simply providing more stability for the position of the white king itself.

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