Ruy Lopez

lausey

Only Chess

08 Sep 04

lausey

Milton Keynes, UK

Joined: 28 Jul 04
Moves: 81605

08 Sep 04

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6

What is generally better for Black and why? 5. ..bxc6 or 5. ..dxc6?

This is NOT a game in progress. I thought that it would be better to take with the b pawn because it would allow for the bishop to go to b7 for the long diagonal, but I do notice that some people do take with the d pawn. Does it really matter?

Cheers, Lau

buddy2

Hainesport, NJ, USA

Joined: 22 Jun 04
Moves: 17527

08 Sep 04

Yea, taking with the b pawn loses the e pawn to the knight. Taking with the d pawn allows queen to protect all. Although, there's probably a line where black takes with b pawn. There are always "lines," no matter how bad.

TimmyToilet

Joined: 07 Apr 03
Moves: 130055

08 Sep 04

1 edit

Originally posted by lausey

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6

What is generally better for Black and why? 5. ..bxc6 or 5. ..dxc6?

This is NOT a game in progress. I thought that it would be better to take with the b pawn because it would allow for the ...[text shortened]... e do take with the d pawn. Does it really matter?

Cheers, Lau

Taking with the d pawn is much better. 5. Nxe5 is not possible due to the fork 5...Qd4. I personally hate the ruy lopez exchange when I am black and never do it when I am white.

-Tim

no1marauder

Naturally Right

Somewhere Else

Joined: 22 Jun 04
Moves: 42677

08 Sep 04

Originally posted by buddy2
Yea, taking with the b pawn loses the e pawn to the knight. Taking with the d pawn allows queen to protect all. Although, there's probably a line where black takes with b pawn. There are always "lines," no matter how bad.

Not really. If White plays 5 Nxe5 Qe7 6 d4 f6 7 Ng4 or f3 Qxe4+.
White's best line if bxc6 is 5 d4 exd4 6 Qxd4 where the Queen is centrally placed and White controls the center. dxc6 is recommended.

yamiyokaze

Shadow Realm

Joined: 23 Aug 04
Moves: 360

08 Sep 04

Originally posted by lausey

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6

What is generally better for Black and why? 5. ..bxc6 or 5. ..dxc6?

This is NOT a game in progress. I thought that it would be better to take with the b pawn because it would allow for the bishop to go to b7 for the long diagonal, but I do notice that some people do take with the d pawn. Does it really matter?

Cheers, Lau

Book says 4...bxc6 has a higher percentage for Black and the average ELO of players is higher, but 4...dxc6 is more played. Taking a look at the position 4...dxc6 is the better one.

hypermo2001

Joined: 14 Oct 01
Moves: 20676

08 Sep 04

dxc6 is better in light of the inferior endgame coming out of bxc6 (i.e. 3 pawn islands instead of two)

AThousandYoung

1st Dan TKD Kukkiwon

tinyurl.com/2te6yzdu

Joined: 23 Aug 04
Moves: 26758

27 Sep 04

I don't know why taking with the D pawn is considered good, but I think Bobby Fischer won a World Championship with that line.

hypermo2001

Joined: 14 Oct 01
Moves: 20676

27 Sep 04

1 edit

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
I don't know why taking with the D pawn is considered good, but I think Bobby Fischer won a World Championship with that line.

the b pawn capture leaves a bad pawn structure (e.g. isolated pawn) that can make for an inferior endgame

Grayeyesofsorrow

Joined: 26 Dec 03
Moves: 9138

27 Sep 04

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
I don't know why taking with the D pawn is considered good, but I think Bobby Fischer won a World Championship with that line.

http://www.chessplayer.com/multipice.htm

That could be the game, although im not sure 😛