C92 Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev Variation

Code C92 covers the main Closed Ruy Lopez 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.h3, a position where White's h3 stops ...Bg4 from pinning the f3-knight and prepares a d4 advance. The code takes in several Black ninth moves, chiefly the Zaitsev Variation, 9...Bb7. That bishop presses on e4 from the long diagonal. Black usually follows with ...Re8 and ...Bf8, so that a later d4 meets steady counter-pressure on the centre. White often answers with the Nbd2-f1-g3 manoeuvre to guard e4 and bring the knight towards the kingside.