Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Zaitsev Hybrid

This solid and flexible chess opening leads to a rich middlegame with chances for both sides, combining ideas from the Breyer Defense and the Zaitsev Variation.

The opening is characterized by a series of standard moves in the Ruy Lopez, with White aiming to control the center and Black seeking counterplay on the queenside. The Breyer Defense, named after Hungarian Grandmaster Gyula Breyer, involves a temporary retreat of the knight to b8, followed by its redeployment to d7. This maneuver allows Black to challenge White's pawn center and prepare for the advance of the f-pawn.

The Zaitsev Hybrid, named after Russian Grandmaster Igor Zaitsev, is a further refinement of the Breyer Defense. It involves the early advance of the b-pawn to b5, which aims to undermine White's strong light-squared bishop on b3. This hybrid system combines the ideas of both the Breyer Defense and the Zaitsev Variation, leading to a complex and strategically rich middlegame.

Both sides have chances for active play, with White typically aiming for a central pawn break with d4, while Black seeks counterplay on the queenside and in the center. The opening has been played by many top-level grandmasters, including former World Champions Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, and remains a popular choice for players seeking a solid and flexible defense against the Ruy Lopez.