Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation
In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code C81. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Qd7: 24 moves in, with White to play.
It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.
Club players rarely lose the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.