The Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Game) is an extremely popular opening and one of the oldest in the history of chess. It has been played by virtually all the greats of the game, providing the battle scene for many world championship clashes involving the likes of Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik. Now, for the first time in many years, Grandmaster Glenn Flear investigates the main line of the Lopez, outlining the crucial ideas and tactics for both White and Black. Using illustrative games, Flear studies the fashionable and theoretical variations, plus the tricky sidelines. This book is perfect for those wishing to play the positions with either colour.

* Written by a Ruy Lopez expert

* Up-to-date theory on the sharpest lines

* Ideal for club and tournament players

English Grandmaster Glenn Flear is one of the most popular professionals on the international tournament circuit. Flear is an experienced trainer and has coached some of Britain's leading junior players. He also has many chess books to his name. Earlier Everyman works include Offbeat Spanish and Test Your Endgame Thinking.

List of Content

004 Bibliography

005 Introduction

007 1 Chigorin Defence with 12...cxd4 13 cxd4

028 2 Chigorin Defence: 12th Move Alternatives

044 3 Black's 11 th Move Alternatives

064 4 The Breyer System

087 5 The Zaitsev Variation

111 6 The Karpov Variation

128 7 The Smyslov Variation

139 8 Black's 9th Move Alternatives

154 9 White Plays 9 d4

166 10 White's 9th Move Alternatives

175 Index of Complete Games