Ruy Lopez (Archangelsk)

Opening moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5. Black develops very actively, pointing the bishop at White's king.

White uses a4, axb5 and c3 to open the a-file and build a strong centre, as shown in the 1.e4 repertoire PGN. This page explains those ideas step by step in simple language.

Key Archangelsk Lines for White

Games 168–176 from the 1.e4 PGN: the main 6...Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 a4–axb5–c3 system, the old 6...Bb7 move order, and useful transpositions into the same Archangelsk structure.

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