Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation, white's 9th move a3 is played to prevent black's knight from occupying the b4 square. This move is important as it prepares for the upcoming push d2-d4, which helps white gain a central advantage. Additionally, it also allows the bishop on b3 to be safely developed without the threat of the black knight occupying the c4 square. In sum, a3 is a strategic move aimed at maintaining control over the center and limiting black's counterplay options.

When Black responds to 1.e4 with e5, they are looking to exert control over the center of the board. This is because the e5 pawn helps Black to contest the vital central squares and limit White's options for development. By immediately challenging White's pawn, Black is also signaling a willingness to engage in an open and dynamic game. This move is one of the most popular and classical responses to 1.e4, and is seen as a solid and flexible option for achieving equality.

In response to Black's e5, White's Nf3 is a natural developing move that helps to control the center of the board and prepare for the eventual castling. The knight also attacks Black's pawn on e5, putting pressure on Black to defend it. Additionally, Nf3 helps to open up the possibility of bringing out the queen (via Qe2) to support the central pawns and exert more pressure on the black position. Finally, Nf3 also allows White to maintain some flexibility, as it does not commit the knight to a specific square right away and allows for options to develop the light-square bishop.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation, Black's response of Nc6 follows the basic principles of opening development by bringing out a piece and preparing for castling. The knight also contributes to controlling the center of the board. By placing a piece on c6, Black prepares to control the d4 square that White seeks to occupy. The knight on c6 also supports Black's pawn on e5, which is currently under attack from White's knight. Additionally, the move can also lead to the possibility of pawn exchanges on d4, which can open up the center and provide more space for Black's pieces to move.

In response to Black's Nc6, White's bishop move to Bb5 is known as the Ruy Lopez opening. By placing the bishop on b5, white pins the black knight on c6, preventing it from capturing the pawn on e4 at the risk of losing the knight. The move also helps to strengthen white's control over the center of the board and creates a threat of the bishop capturing the knight and doubling Black's pawns on the c-file. Additionally, the bishop on b5 also clears the way for White's knight to occupy the d5 square, which would further strengthen White's central control and position. Finally, the Ruy Lopez also aims to provide an early advantage in development, putting pressure on Black to find accurate moves to gain equality.

In response to White's bishop move to b5, Black's move a6 is played to gain a tempo by forcing the bishop to move or risk being captured. a6 also prepares b5 in the future to challenge the bishop's position on b3. By playing a6, Black also creates a stable square on b5 for the knight to develop and potentially attack White's central pawns. Additionally, a6 helps to limit White's options for expanding on the queenside and reduces the pressure on Black's central pawn on e5. Finally, a6 is seen as a standard and natural move in the Ruy Lopez opening, allowing Black to further establish their control over the position.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation, White's bishop move to a4 continues the bishop's development while also maintaining the pin on Black's knight. The move Ba4 also puts pressure on Black's a-pawn, making moves like b7-b5 more difficult to play. Another purpose of the move is to help prepare White's eventual castling move on the kingside. Additionally, by shifting the bishop to a4, White may have the opportunity to temporarily sacrifice the b-pawn to disrupt Black's pawn structure after Black's eventual capture on c6 and the subsequent recapture with the b-pawn. This move increases a White's central control and contributes to his potential advantage.

In response to White's bishop move to a4, Black's Knight move to f6 develops a piece and attacks the bishop on a4. The move also prepares to castle kingside and helps reinforce Black's control over the central squares. By attacking the Bishop, Black also forces it to retreat to a less active square, potentially disrupting White's piece coordination. Additionally, the move Nf6 helps to create potential pawn breaks with d7-d5, further challenging White's central control. Finally, Nf6 has another threat of e4, putting pressure on the White center and potentially gaining space and initiative.

In response to Black's knight move to f6, white's move O-O is an essential king safety move to relocate the king to the corner, away from the center of the board. Castling also helps connect the rooks and contributes to White's piece coordination. Additionally, castling kingside allows an escape route for the king in case of an attack on the e4 pawn or in case of the opening of the central files. Castling also allows White to double the rooks on the d-file, preparing for more pressure and possible pawn breaks in the center. Finally, O-O is seen as a natural and standard move in the Ruy Lopez, providing a necessary step for White in their opening development.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation, Black's move Be7 develops a bishop, prepares to castle kingside, and also helps reinforce Black's control over the central squares. By placing the bishop on the e7-square, Black also provides support for the d6-pawn, which is often a target of White's attacks. Additionally, the bishop on e7 helps to control the f8-a3 diagonal and can potentially contribute to Black's counterplay on the kingside. The move can also clear up space for Black's Queen to move away from the center. Finally, Be7 is seen as a standard and flexible move in the Ruy Lopez, allowing Black to prepare for the middle game and maintain equality in the position.

In response to Black's move to Be7, White's move Re1 is a natural developing move that reinforces the control over the e4 pawn and prepares to double the rooks on the e-file. The move also helps connect the rooks and improves White's piece coordination. Additionally, Re1 can prepare to support the e4 pawn with f2-f3, and it also clears the d1-square to enable the queen to move to an open file. The move Re1 also creates the potential for White to pressure the Black e-pawn with future moves like Qd1-e2 and Ng1-e2. Finally, Re1 is a standard move in the Ruy Lopez, providing a logical and necessary step in White's opening development.

In response to White's move Re1, Black's b5 move is played with the aim of removing the bishop from the c4-square and gaining more space on the queenside. The move b5 also creates a weakness that White can target in the future. Additionally, the move creates the possibility of challenging White's central pawn chain by advancing with d6-d5. Moreover, b5 can force the bishop to retreat to b3, which can invite Black to exchange the bishop for a knight with a consequent weakening of White's pawn structure. Finally, the move b5 can potentially disrupt White's queenside pawn structure and make opposing pawn breaks difficult.

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation, White's move Bb3 brings the bishop back to b3, where it may help support the central pawn structure or target the d5 square. The move also defends the e4-pawn while anticipating Black's response to b5. Additionally, the bishop on b3 helps to control the c4-square, preventing Black's knight from occupying it and targeting White's central pawns. Finally, Bb3 allows White to castling kingside without worrying about the pin on the e-file, and it supports possible future pawn pushes on the queenside. In sum, Bb3 is a standard developing move in the Ruy Lopez opening, contributing to White's central control and creating potential pressure in the position.

In response to White's move Bb3, Black's move to d6 contributes to the development of the dark-squared bishop and prepares to castle kingside. The move also helps to solidify the pawn structure and limit potential weaknesses on the d-file. Additionally, d6 also supports Black's central pawn on e5, preventing any future tactics with Nxd6 followed by attacks on the e5-pawn. The move can also create potential pawn break opportunities with moves like c7-c5 or f7-f5 depending on the situation and position. Finally, d6 is a flexible and standard move in the Ruy Lopez, helping Black to maintain control over the center and prepare for the middle game.

In response to Black's move d6, White's move c3 is played to prevent Black's pawn from advancing to d5. The move also prepares to support the central pawn chain with d2-d4, which would allow an expansion in the center and solidify White's central control. Additionally, c3 helps to reinforce White's control over the d4-square, making it more difficult for Black to challenge White's central pawn structure. The move also clears the b1-h7 diagonal for the bishop to move to a new square in the future. Finally, c3 is seen as a standard move in the Ruy Lopez, providing necessary support for White's central control and preparing for more aggressive middle-game possibilities.

This move is not described yet.

This move is not described yet.