Ruy Lopez (for White)

The Ruy Lopez, or Spanish Game, starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. The bishop attacks the c6 knight, which defends the e5 pawn: the pressure is indirect, but it lasts the whole game. It has been the most played opening at the top level for over a century.

White's ideas

• Keep long-term pressure on e5 and on Black's center, instead of winning material right away.
• Get the king safe, then prepare the d4 push with the c3 pawn.
• The bishop often retreats to b3, where it eyes f7 along the diagonal.

Black's ideas

• Chase the bishop with the a6 and b5 pushes, develop the bishop to e7 and castle.
• Depending on the line, defend e5 solidly with d6, or counterattack in the center with d5.

The main line: the Closed Ruy Lopez

3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3. Both sides get a rich position full of maneuvers. The h3 pawn stops Black's bishop from going to g4 to pin the f3 knight.

Main variations

• Berlin Defense: 3...Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8. The queens come off early; Black's king can no longer castle, but Black's position is known to be very solid.
• Exchange Variation: 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O f6. White damages Black's pawns (doubled on the c-file); in return, Black keeps the bishop pair.
• Marshall Attack: 7...O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6. Black sacrifices a pawn to attack White's king.

The trap to know

After 3...a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6, the e5 pawn looks lost, but 5.Nxe5? Qd4 wins the pawn back: the queen attacks both the knight and the e4 pawn, and after 6.Nf3 Qxe4+ material is level.

Coach's advice

The Ruy Lopez is a long game: with White, don't try to win e5 right away; with Black, keep your center solid and wait for the right moment to free it. Click the colored moves to follow each line, then ask me your questions.

Main line

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