The game takes a different course when Black exchanges the pawns in the centre.  The continuation would then be:  11. ...  Kt-B3; 12.  Q Kt-Q2, B-Q2; 13.  Kt-B1, PxP; 14.  PxP, PxP; 15.  B-Kt5, Q-Kt3.  It is difficult to decide which side has the advantage.  Black has an extra pawn, but White has the initiative.

If in Diag. 116, after 8. ...  Castles White plays 9.  P-Q4 at once, Black has an opportunity for the following interesting attack:  9.  P-Q4, B-Kt5; 10.  B-K3, KtxKP; 11.  B-Q5, Q-Q2; 12.  BxKKt, P-Q4; 13.  B-B2, P-K5 14.  P-KR3, B-R4; 15.  Kt-K5, BxQ; 16.  KtxQ, BxB; 17.  KtxR, RxKt.  White cannot take advantage of his Rooks, as there is no open file, whilst Black threatens to initiate a strong attack with P-B4.

Aljechin has analysed a variation of this line of play, which he thinks leads finally to White’s advantage:  12.  PxP, Kt-Kt4; 13.  BxKt, BxB; 14.  P-KR3, BxKt; 15.  QxB, KtxP; 16.  RxKt, PxR; 17.  BxR, B-B8; 18.  Kt-R3, Q-Q7.  I doubt that White can win this game.

          9.  P-Q3

In this less aggressive continuation, in which nothing is immediately attempted against Black’s centre, White prepares gradually for a King’s side attack, as in this game with Kt-Q2- B1-Kt3.  But Black should obtain time for operations in the centre.

9. ...  Kt-QR4 10.  B-B2 P-B4 11.  QKt-Q2 Kt-B3 12.  P-QR4

In many variations of the Ruy Lopez, this advance is always good, if Black cannot avoid exchanging the pawn, because the White Queen’s Rook, which only gets into play with difficulty, can either be exchanged or hold the Rook’s file.  In any case the Black Knight’s pawn is weak for the end-game.  If, as in the present game.  Black can play P-Kt5, P-R4 is useless and even doubtful, as the Rook’s pawn itself may become weak in the end-game.

          12. ...  B-Kt2

This causes the loss of the game.  In the Ruy Lopez the Bishop is nearly always needed on the diagonal QB1-KR6, to prevent a Knight from settling at White’s KB5, which otherwise cannot be repelled except by P-KKt3, a most undesirable consummation.  The proper continuation would have been P-Kt5, B-K3, Q-B2 and P-Q4, capturing the Queen’s file.  Compare note to move 13 in the next game.

13.  Kt-B1             Q-B2
14.  Kt-Kt3            P-Kt3

---------------------------------------
8 | #R |    |    |    |    | #R | #K |    |
|---------------------------------------|
7 |    | #B | #Q |    | #B | #P |    | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | #P |    | #Kt| #P |    | #Kt| #P |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    | #P | #P |    | #P |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | ^P |    |    |    | ^P |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    |    | ^P | ^P |    | ^Kt| ^Kt|    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 |    | ^P | ^B |    |    | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R |    | ^B | ^Q | ^R |    | ^K |    |
---------------------------------------
A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H

Diag. 117