Our series on the Ruy Lopez progresses this week with a look at three Black sidelines after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4. The main move is 4...Nf6, but there are alternatives that merit some attention. First, we have a quick look at the Norwegian Variation, characterized by 4...b5 5.Bb3 Na5. Black grabs the bishop pair and hopes to neutralize White's advantages in space and development. Next, there's the Delayed Schliemann/Jaenisch: 4...f5. Despite the superficial resemblance with the more popular 3...f5, there are crucial differences in the main lines with Nc3, d3 and d4, and White players in particular ought to know them. Finally, we look at the most popular and reliable of all the 4th move alternatives: 4...d6, the Deferred Steinitz. It's a rich variation in its own right, so I try to offer both breadth and some depth in the coverage.
The show is here, and it's free (free registration required) and will be available on-demand for the next month or so.