Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense

A solid and classical chess opening, this defense aims to counter the Ruy Lopez with a6 and d6 pawn moves.

The defense is a popular and well-established opening that has been played by many top-level players throughout history. It is a solid and classical response to the Ruy Lopez, one of the oldest and most respected chess openings. The main idea behind this defense is to counter the Ruy Lopez by playing a6 and d6 pawn moves, which allows Black to challenge White's central pawn structure and potentially gain a pawn majority on the queenside.

In this opening, Black aims to maintain a solid pawn structure while preparing to counterattack in the center. The a6 move forces White's light-squared bishop to retreat to a4, while the d6 move supports the e5 pawn and prepares to develop the dark-squared bishop. Black's knight on c6 is well-placed to support the central pawn structure and potentially jump to the d4 square in the future.

White, on the other hand, will try to exploit Black's slightly passive position by expanding in the center and potentially launching a kingside attack. The opening can lead to various pawn structures and middlegame plans, making it a versatile and rich battleground for both players.

Overall, this defense is a solid and reliable choice for Black players who want to counter the Ruy Lopez while maintaining a classical and balanced pawn structure.