The Cozio Defense

This is a variation in the Ruy Lopez which starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nge7?

This as most know is really not the best line to play against the
Lopez...and has recently employed against me in game 102072
Schliemann vs Danforth. I am going to share a VERY old game
showing what can happen in this defense to black. This is a game
between two World Champion candidates in which one has two games
(The Immortal Game and The Evergreen Game) that are probably the
most famous in chess history.

Zuketort vs Anderssen
Breslau, 1865

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nge7
4.c3 d6 Better was d5
5.d4 Bd7
6.0-0 Ng6
7.Ng5 h6
8.Nxf7!! Kxf7
9.Bc4+ Ke7 Obviously not Be6 due to d5
10.Qh5 Qe8??
11.Bg5+!! hxg5 (this could have been done either way...a beautiful
criss cross mate)
12.Qxg5 ++

Pretty ugly huh?

Dave

yeah, that is pretty scary.

one remark though, as far as move 9. if black plays not Ke7 as in the
game but Ke8, he is even better than white:

9. ... Ke8
10. Qh5, Qf6!
11. f4, exd4 etc...

sin.

I saw that as well...I swear Anderssen was drunk or something when
he played that game. I mean Zuketort was an awesome player...but
12 moves?? Ewwwww!

Dave

Thanks Dave for the demonstration... I see now what you mean when
you wrote "wrong one to pick". But what is the best defense against
3.Bb5?

Yan the chess dumb

Well...most people go with Morphy's idea 3....a6 which puts the
question to the bishop "Either take my knight or get the hell outta
here"...alot of newbies think that Bxc6 and then the e pawn is
undefended and they can snatch off with Nxe5...this only works if
Black plays stupidly and takes back with the b pawn...correct is dxc6!
then if Nxe5 Qd4! forking the knight and the e4 pawn...after Nf3
Qxe4+ regaining the pawn.

Whoa...ventured off from the original question I of course recommend
the a6 line for beginners...but I play 3...f5!! The Schliemann...a highly
risky, very tactical, and hugely fun defense. It states basically No
Draws today!! Either get me or I am going to get you!

Dave

Thanks again Dave, I think that I'll try to use the Morphy on my
upcoming games, or maybe I'll try the schliemann too... It looks very
interesting!

Yan

No offense Dave.......I don't think f5 deserves the !!......hehe......if it
was up to me I'd give f5 that, but I suck so the theorists take the !!
and turn it into a !? or ?!......Heck, I'm studying the Schliemann right
now!

Not it doesn't...but when I am writing the post I can do that! hehehe

It is a dubious defense...but a good one nonetheless. And I have
claimed many a scalp with it.

Dave

I like 1...Nc6 and the Fritz Ulvestad in the Two Knights.....those are
both pretty good.......the Fritz is bordering on soundness though!