Ruy Lopez, Cozio Defense

In algebraic notation, e7 means column e, row seven. The Cozio Defense begins when Black moves the g8-knight to e7. From there, the knight supports the c6-knight, which is under pressure from White’s bishop on b5. If White exchanges that knight, Black can recapture with the knight from e7 and keep the pawn structure intact.

The idea is flexible, but it has a cost. The knight on e7 temporarily blocks the bishop on f8 and places less immediate pressure on the center than a knight on f6. Black often reorganizes with pawns on d6 or g6, brings the bishop out along another diagonal, and moves the knight toward g6 when useful.

White receives time to occupy the center with d4 and bring the remaining pieces into play. Black tries to show that a solid position and the possibility of avoiding doubled pawns compensate for the slower start. Doubled pawns are two same-colored pawns on the same file, a structure that can arise in other Ruy Lopez lines when a pawn recaptures on c6.