Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...a6/4. Ba4/4...Nf6/5. d4

Mackenzie variation Morphy defence 5. d4 · Mackenzie variation The Mackenzie variation is an attacking sideline. It seems a mite uncivilised to open the centre so early, but White hopes to generate opportunities along the e-file before Black gets safely castled and avoid facing the more theoretical Closed Spanish positions. The game frequently transposes into an Open Spanish. White threatens to take on e5 or play d5. Black has a choice of pawn captures. 5...Nxe4 transposes into the mainline of the Open Spanish after 6. O-O. After 5...exd4 White hopes for opportunities along the half-open e-file. White doesn't need to recover the pawn straight away (see miniature, below). 6. e5 (kicking the knight) immediately is better, but best is 6. O-O. This prepares to answer 6...Nxe4?! with 7. Re1, transposing to the Riga variation of the Open Spanish. The most common move 6...Be7 transposes into the Centre attack (where d4 is played after castling: 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 exd4). After 7. e5 Ne4 8. Nxd4 and White recovers the pawn, and if Black chooses to trade knights 8...Nxd4 9. Qxd4 comes with tempo on the other knight. If 5...Nxd4 then after 6. Nxd4 exd4 White doesn't need to rush to recover the pawn. White has 7. e5 or 7. O-O and the position is similar. If Black allows White to capture instead, e.g. 5...Be7 6. Nxe5, then after 6...Nxe5 7. dxe5 Nxe4 White has the sharp move 8. Qg4. History The Mackenzie variation is named after George Henry Mackenzie (1837–1891) who played it several times in the 2nd American Chess Conference in Cleveland in 1871.Mackenzie v Hosmer, 1871 - Chessgames.com Sample game George Henry Mackenzie vs Henry Hosmer 2nd American Chess Conference, Cleveland. 1871. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d4 The Mackenzie variation of the Spanish game. 5. d4 is an aggressive, Scotch-style thrust looking to open the centre and create attacking chances. 5...exd4 Black takes the pawn. This opens up the e-file. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O right Position after 6. O-O 1 6. O-O Castling allows White's rook into the game. Note White doesn't try to recover the pawn immediately. If 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4, then the critical move is 7...Qe7. White can't hold onto their e-pawn and their centralised queen can be a liability: 8. Nc3 (to defend e4) c5! and e.g. 9. Qe3 (trying to keep defending the e-pawn) b5 (White's bishop is going to get trapped) 10. e5 (counterattack?) Ng4 11. Qf3 (forks knight and rook) Qxe5+ 12. Kf1 d5 (protects rook and knight). The engine line is for White to give up the pawn and trade queens, 8. Bb3 Qxe4+ 9. Qxe4+ Nxe4 10. O-O-. 6...Be7 White's e4 pawn was defended indirectly by the threat of Re1 and the danger of a fully-open e-file before Black has castled. If 6...Nxe4?! 7. Re1 the knight is pinned to the king and supporting it with either pawn has drawbacks: 7...d5 pins Black's other knight and 7...f5 opens Black's king before it has castled. In either case White can recover a pawn with 8. Nxd4. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O Be7 7. e5 Ne4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 right Position after 9. Qxd4 1 7. e5 Ne4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Waiting until now to recover the pawn allows White to gain time on Black's knight, and ...Qe7 is no longer possible because of the bishop on e7. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O Be7 7. e5 Ne4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Nc5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 d6 12. exd6 Qxd6 right Position after 12...Qxd6?! 1 9...Nc5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 d6 12. exd6 Qxd6?! Better was 12...O-O: there was no danger of 13. dxe7 because it was pinned to White's queen, and Black over overlooks the danger to their kingside. 13. Qxg7 Bf6?? Better was 13...Qf6, defending the rook and offering a queen trade. Moving the bishop unblocks the e-file and Black's king is still in the centre. 14. Re1+ Kd8 15. Bg5 Prevents ...Bxg7 by pinning the bishop Black's king. 1-0 Black resigns. Theory table 5...exd4 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d6 9. Bd5 Nxd5 Mackenzie variation References See also Ruy Lopez Play the Mackenzie! A Sharp White Attack in the Ruy Lopez Gertier David New in Chess 2024 9781916839625 https://www.newinchess.com/play-the-mackenzie External links Ruy Lopez Chess Opening Explained in 10 Minutes - ch. 5 Morphy Defense, Mackenzie Variation. GM Igor Smirnov. (YouTube)