C88 Ruy Lopez: Closed

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3, the code C88 covers the Closed Ruy Lopez positions where Black castles with 7...O-O before White has committed to c3. Its best-known branch is the Anti-Marshall, where White sidesteps the Marshall Attack, the pawn sacrifice ...d5 that Black plays after c3. With 8.a4, White attacks the b5-pawn and opens the a-file for the rook. With 8.h3, White rules out the pin ...Bg4 and prepares d3, keeping the e4-pawn solidly defended so that ...d5 brings Black no gambit play.