The Closed, Yates Variation, Short Attack is a variation of the Ruy Lopez, catalogued as ECO C91. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. a4, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e4, Black on e5), and two pawn captures are available, so the structure is still fluid. Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two. It is Black to move after ten moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Ruy Lopez generally: One of the oldest and most classical openings. White develops rapidly and puts pressure on Black's center.
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The Closed, Yates Variation, Short Attack goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. a4. It is a variation of the Ruy Lopez and is catalogued as ECO C91.
The Closed, Yates Variation, Short Attack is ECO C91. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Ruy Lopez.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. a4 at -0.09 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e4, Black on e5), and two pawn captures are available, so the structure is still fluid. Black is ahead in development, with four minor pieces out to White's two. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.