I often get into this exchange (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense, Archangel Variation—ECO C78) when I play against the computer.
- e4 | e5
- Nf3 | Nc6
- Bb5 | a6
- Ba4 | Nf6
- O-O | b5
- Bb3 | Bc5
I've never beat the machine—because I am a hack player—so I thought I'd record some responses and see what happens.
- c3 (to prevent b5-b4) | Nxe4
- d4 | exd4
- cxd4 | Be7
- d5 (attack Nc6) | Na5 (attack Bb3)
- Bc2 (retreat from Na5, attack Ne4) | Nf6 (retreat from Bc2, attack d5)
- Bg5 (attack Nf6) | Nc4 (?)
- Re1 | O-O
- Qd3 (attack Nc4) | Nxb2 (attack Qd3)
- Qd4 (attack Nb2 and Nf6) | h6 (attack Bg5)
- Qh4 (defend Bg5) | hxg5)
- Nxg5 | g6 (prevent Bb2+/Qh2+/Nb2#)
- Nd2 | Nh5 (block Q moving forward?)
- Rb1 (attack Nb2) | Bxg5 (fork Qh4 and Nd2)
- Re2 | Bxg5 (attack Qh4)
- Qd4 (retreat from Bg5, attack Nb2) | Bf6 (attack Qd4)
- Qc5 (retreat from Bf6, attack Rf8) | Nf4 (attack Re2)
- Re4 (attack Nf4) | Nd3 (attack Qc5, defend Nf4)
- Bxd3 | Nxd3