Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Fianchetto Defense Deferred

A chess opening that combines the ideas of the Ruy Lopez and the Fianchetto Defense, aiming for a solid and flexible pawn structure.

The opening is a combination of the Ruy Lopez, a classic opening that has been played for centuries, and the Fianchetto Defense, a more modern approach to chess. The idea behind this opening is to create a solid and flexible pawn structure that can adapt to various middle game plans. By fianchettoing the dark-squared bishop, Black aims to control the central squares and put pressure on White's pawn on e4.

White's main idea in this opening is to maintain the central pawn duo and develop their pieces harmoniously. The opening can lead to various pawn structures, such as the Closed Ruy Lopez or the Open Ruy Lopez, depending on how both players decide to proceed. Black's pawn on g6 also provides additional support for a potential pawn break with f7-f5, which can help to challenge White's central pawn duo.

This opening is not as popular as other lines in the Ruy Lopez, but it has been played by strong players, including the legendary Paul Morphy. It can be a good choice for players who want to avoid the heavily analyzed main lines of the Ruy Lopez and prefer a more flexible and less theoretical approach to the opening.