Ruy Lopez: moves, ideas and plans

The Spanish Game: slow, deep pressure on Black's centre. A lifetime opening played at every level.

C92Play it as WhiteIntermediate17 moves

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

Key ideas

• Bb5 pressures the defender of e5.
• Castle, then Re1 to support e4.
• c3 and h3 prepare d4 without allowing ...Bg4.

The Ruy Lopez move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as C92 Ruy Lopez: Closed.

1. 1. e4Centre.
2. 1… e5Symmetrical.
3. 2. Nf3Attacks e5.
4. 2… Nc6Defends.
5. 3. Bb5The Ruy Lopez. The bishop attacks the knight that defends e5.
6. 3… a6The Morphy Defence asks the bishop to decide immediately.
7. 4. Ba4White keeps the pin on the long diagonal rather than trading on c6.
8. 4… Nf6Develops and attacks e4.
9. 5. O-OWhite castles and does not mind ...Nxe4: after Re1 or d4 the pawn comes back with a lead in development.
10. 5… Be7Black prepares to castle, the calm Closed Ruy Lopez.
11. 6. Re1Now e4 is directly defended and the threat Bxc6 plus Nxe5 is real.
12. 6… b5Black kicks the bishop to stop that threat.
13. 7. Bb3The bishop retreats to its best diagonal, still aiming at f7.
14. 7… d6Solidly defends e5.
15. 8. c3Prepares d4 and gives the bishop a retreat square on c2.
16. 8… O-OBoth kings are safe; the long manoeuvring battle begins.
17. 9. h3Prevents ...Bg4, which would pin the f3 knight. Now d4 comes next.

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