chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense (C73)
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 d6 5 Bxc6+ bxc6 6 d4

Number of games in database: 1059
Years covered: 1892 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 36.8%
   Black wins 29.2%
   Draws 34.0%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Aleksandar Matanovic  11 games
George Thomas  11 games
Boris Spassky  9 games
Heikki Westerinen  18 games
Bogdan Sliwa  18 games
Victor Ciocaltea  16 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
O Feuer vs O'Kelly, 1934
Alekhine vs Koltanowski, 1932
Nunn vs Portisch, 1988
G Thomas vs Capablanca, 1936
Ivkov vs Smyslov, 1956
Timman vs Spassky, 1983
<< previous chapter next chapter >>

 page 1 of 43; games 1-25 of 1,059  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Tarrasch vs Alapin 1-0311892NurembergC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
2. Winawer vs Alapin 1-03818927th DSB Congress, DresdenC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
3. Mason vs Blackburne ½-½281892North of Ireland CongressC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
4. N van Lennep vs W Meiners  1-0461893ASC clubC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
5. A B Hodges vs G Bellingham  ½-½6918972nd Anglo-American Cable MatchC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
6. Maroczy vs H Wolf 1-04018992nd Kolisch Memorial, Vienna 1899/00C73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
7. J Kotrc vs H Wolf  1-04818992nd Kolisch Memorial, Vienna 1899/00C73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
8. D Mills vs A B Hodges  ½-½6119016th Anglo-American Cable MatchC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
9. J C Halpern vs A B Hodges  1-0261901Manhattan CC Championship 1901C73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
10. Teichmann vs Schlechter ½-½681902Monte CarloC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
11. H Wolf vs Schlechter 0-1561903Monte CarloC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
12. W Gunston vs A Emery  ½-½411903Southern Counties Union Challenge CupC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
13. O Bernstein vs M Brody  1-073190414th DSB Congress, CoburgC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
14. Duras vs M Lange 1-037190414th DSB Congress - Hauptturnier AC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
15. Gajdos vs E Cohn  0-1331905Barmen Hauptturnier-AC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
16. D Przepiorka vs H Fahrni  ½-½461905Barmen Meisterturnier BC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
17. O Bernstein vs von Bardeleben 1-0281905Barmen Meisterturnier AC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
18. H Suechting vs Swiderski  ½-½171906OstendC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
19. Teichmann vs H Wolf  1-0381906OstendC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
20. D Przepiorka vs L Forgacs 0-127190615th DSB Congress, NurembergC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
21. D Przepiorka vs E Cohn  1-0391906Munich Schachklub AltmuenchenC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
22. B Gregory vs Marshall  0-1371908Marshall - GregoryC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
23. H Rosenfeld vs P Johner  0-1331909Johner - Rosenfeld mC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
24. Capablanca vs A Seguin 0-1391909Simul, 24bC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
25. R Michell vs J W te Kolste  ½-½501910London CC - Dutch Chess FedC73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
 page 1 of 43; games 1-25 of 1,059  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-12-04  Knight13: Did Steintz played this opening the first time or what?
Oct-12-04  refutor: <Did Steintz played this opening the first time or what? > i don't believe so...he pioneered the "old steinitz" line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 and this is a modern variation of that (with ...a6 and Ba4 inserted)
Oct-12-04  e4Newman: The position/moves illustrated incorporate a few ideas. <refutor> correctly identifies the modern or deferred Steinitz as a slightly delayed ...d6, usually 4.Ba4 d6. But here we also see white trying to punish black with a deferred exchange as well, forcing the doubling of pawns using the b-pawn instead of the more efficient d-pawn. Black now also has another weakness in the isolated a-pawn!
Oct-31-05  hayton3: Actually, the strategical intention of Bxc6 is to rob black of one of its strongpoint defenders of e5. When white follows up with d4, black is faced with either ceding his strongpoint defence with exd or he can shore it up with f6 (which is better). This however takes away black's best square for the development of his king knight. Thus black develops his knight to e7 en route for g6. This then allows white to initiate a kingside pawnstorm with h4 - aiming to gain a tempo by attacking the knight with h5. Therefore by Bxc6 white is creating an attacking strategical plan involving queenside castling with a pawnstorm on the kingside against the black king!
Oct-31-05  e4Newman: thanks <hayton3>

well said

Dec-02-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ron: A line that can arise out of the Steinitz Defense Deferred: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bxc6 bxc6 6. d4 f6 7. Nc3 Rb8

Chessbase has 6 games in their database, with 2 wins for white, 4 draws, and no losses for white. And one of the games had Alekhine playing black. A possible 8th move for white, b3, seems interesting. Here is a sample line: 8. b3 Bg4 9. Bb2 exd4 10. Qxd4 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Ne7 12. f4 f5 13. e5 d5 14. 0-0-0 Qc8 15. Rhg1 Qe6 16. Qa4 Ra8

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific opening only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC