Ruy Lopez

The idea

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5, White puts pressure on the knight that defends e5. There is no immediate threat to win the pawn, because Black can often answer Bxc6 and Nxe5 with ...Qd4 or ...Qg5 ideas, but the pressure lasts for many moves. Black's main answer is 3...a6, the Morphy Defense, asking the bishop to decide.

In the main lines White castles, plays Re1, c3 and d4, and builds a big center while the bishop sits on b3 or c2. Black chooses between solid setups with ...d6 and ...Be7, the counter-attacking Marshall Attack with an early ...d5, or the Berlin Defense with 3...Nf6, known for its quiet endgames.

Deep and positional. The Ruy Lopez has been tested at the top level for well over a century, and both sides need patience and an understanding of the plans. It is named after Ruy López de Segura, a Spanish priest who wrote about it in the 1500s.

Players who enjoy slow maneuvering and long games, and who are ready to learn a rich opening over time. It is a lifelong choice for many strong players.

As White, do not rush to win e5 after Bxc6: check Black's queen counter-attacks first. And know Noah's Ark, where Black's ...b5 and ...c5 trap your bishop on b3.

The main line, move by move

1. 1.e4 · White puts a pawn in the center and frees the queen and the bishop on f1. It is the most popular first move of all.
2. 1...e5 · Black claims an equal share of the center and opens lines for the queen and the bishop on f8.
3. 2.Nf3 · The knight develops toward the center and attacks the pawn on e5 right away, so Black must defend it.
4. 2...Nc6 · Black guards e5 with the knight and develops a piece at the same time. It is the most natural reply.
5. 3.Bb5 · This is the Ruy Lopez, or Spanish Game: the bishop attacks the knight that guards e5. White is not winning a pawn yet; the idea is lasting pressure on Black's center.
6. 3...a6 · Black attacks the bishop with a pawn, so White must retreat it or trade it on c6. Trading wins nothing yet: after 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5, 5...Qd4 wins the pawn back.

Next moves in book

• 3...a5 · Bulgarian Variation
• 3...a6 · Morphy Defense
• 3...b6 · Rotary-Albany Gambit
• 3...Na5 · Pollock Defense
• 3...Nb8 · Retreat Variation
• 3...Nd4 · Bird Variation
• 3...d5 · Spanish Countergambit
• 3...d6 · Steinitz Defense
• 3...Qe7 · Vinogradov Variation
• 3...f5 · Schliemann Defense
• 3...f6 · Nürnberg Variation
• 3...Bb4 · Alapin Defense
• 3...Bc5 · Classical Variation
• 3...Be7 · Lucena Variation
• 3...g5 · Brentano Gambit
• 3...g6 · Fianchetto Defense
• 3...Nge7 · Cozio Defense
• 3...Nf6 · Berlin Defense

Watch out for

• Fishing Pole trap
• The Noah's Ark Trap

Related openings

• Italian Game C50–C59 · 156 named lines
• Scotch Game C44–C45 · 48 named lines
• Four Knights Game C47–C50 · 40 named lines
• Petrov's Defense C42–C43 · 43 named lines