Made in IndiaRuy Lopez
You play White. It starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5.
The Ruy Lopez (the Spanish Game) is one of the oldest and richest openings. With 3.Bb5 White attacks the knight that defends e5, builds slow pressure, castles and prepares c3 and d4 to take the centre. World champions have played it for 150 years.
The course is built from 1,19,572 games of the Ruy Lopez by strong players in Chess Castles' database: the lines below are the ones they really play, with the score White made in each.
The first moves, one by one
- 1.e4 It takes a centre square (e4). It opens a line for the queen on d1. It opens a line for the bishop on f1.
- 1...e5 It takes a centre square (e5). It opens a line for the queen on d8. It opens a line for the bishop on f8.
- 2.Nf3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (d4, e5). It attacks the pawn on e5.
- 2...Nc6 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (d4, e5).
- 3.Bb5 It develops the bishop into the game. Now castling is possible.
Morphy Defence (3...a6)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
Move by move
- 3...a6 It attacks the bishop on b5.
Plans for White
- After 3...a6 keep the bishop with 4.Ba4, castle, then Re1, c3 and d4: a strong centre and a long, rich middlegame.
- The bishop often retreats to c2 and the knight travels b1-d2-f1-g3 to join the kingside attack.
- Watch out: In the Marshall Attack (...O-O and ...d5) Black gives a pawn for a fast attack on your king: know the main moves before you allow it.
Berlin Defence (3...Nf6)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Move by move
- 3...Nf6 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5). It attacks the pawn on e4.
Plans for White
- Against 3...Nf6 castle at once; after 4...Nxe4 5.d4 or 5.Re1 you win the pawn back with a lead in development.
- Many players avoid the Berlin endgame with 4.d3: a quiet Italian-style game where White keeps more pieces and plays slowly for a kingside attack.
- Watch out: In the Berlin endgame Black has the bishop pair but a damaged pawn structure: use your kingside pawn majority.
Classical Defence (3...Bc5)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5
Move by move
- 3...Bc5 It develops the bishop into the game. It controls the centre (d4).
Plans for White
- Against 3...Bc5 play c3 and d4: the centre pawns gain time by hitting the bishop.
- Castle early and keep the e4 pawn well protected before you push d4.
Other replies
- Against rarer replies the plan is the same: castle, Re1, c3 and d4 for a big centre.
- If Black blocks with ...d6 or ...Nge7, take the e5 pawn only when it is really free.
How each line scores
| Line | Moves | Games | White scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5...Be7 · Closed | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 | 40,757 | 56% |
| 3...Nf6 · Berlin Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 | 18,561 | 55% |
| 5...b5 · Morphy Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 | 9,373 | 57% |
| 5...Nxe4 · Open | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 | 5,710 | 57% |
| 4...d6 · Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 | 5,476 | 56% |
| 3...f5 · Schliemann Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 | 4,158 | 59% |
| 3...g6 · Fianchetto Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 | 2,803 | 54% |
| 3...Nge7 · Cozio Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 | 2,424 | 54% |
| 3...Bc5 · Classical Variation | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 | 2,063 | 57% |
| 4...Nge7 · Morphy Defense, Cozio Defense | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nge7 | 1,565 | 49% |
| 5...Bc5 · Morphy Defense, Møller Variation | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 | 1,465 | 52% |
The score counts a win as 1 and a draw as ½, from White's side, in games between strong players.
On the board: the course (plans, model games, puzzles from real games of the opening), and the opening trainer, which drills the moves until you know them (a free account keeps your progress).
More openings: Caro-Kann Defence, Jobava London, Chebanenko Slav, Italian Game, Queen's Gambit, London System, Sicilian Najdorf, French Defence, King's Indian Defence, Queen's Gambit Declined.