C60
Ruy Lopez (Spanish)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
In the Ruy Lopez (Spanish), aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Ruy Lopez pins the c6-knight indirectly to the e5-pawn and asks Black a long-term question about the center. It has been a main battleground of world championship chess for over a century.
Unlike the Italian, the Ruy is more about slow maneuvering and long-term pressure than quick attacks — patience and a good understanding of pawn structures pay off.
Key plans
- The main line continues 3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O.
- White often plays for the d4 break and a kingside buildup.
- Black’s ...d6, ...Na5 and ...c5 plan challenges the center.
Play the Ruy Lopez (Spanish)? See where you go wrong.
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Analyze my games free →Variations of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish)
- Alapin Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4
- Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4 4. c3 Ba5 5. Bxc6 dxc6
- Brentano Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g5
- Bulgarian Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a5
- Cozio Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7
- Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. Nc3 g6
- Cozio Defense, Tartakower Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nge7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Qd2 d5
- Fianchetto Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6
- Fianchetto Defense, Kevitz Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 f5
- Lucena Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Be7
- Nurnberg Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f6
- Pollock Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5
- Retreat Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8
- Rotary-Albany Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 b6
- Spanish Countergambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5
- Spanish Countergambit, Harding Countergambit, Fricke Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. O-O
- Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxc6
- Vinogradov Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Qe7
- Bird Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4
- Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O Ne7
- Steinitz Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6
- Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O
- Steinitz Defense, Nimzowitsch Attack1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bxc6
- Old Steinitz Defense, Semi-Duras Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. c4
- Schliemann Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5
- Schliemann Defense, Classical Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Nxe5 dxe4 7. Nxc6 Qg5
- Schliemann Defense, Dyckhoff Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3
- Schliemann Defense, Exchange Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Bxc6
- Schliemann Defense, Jaenisch Gambit Accepted1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. exf5
- Schliemann Defense, Kostic Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7
- Schliemann Defense, Moehring Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Nxe5 dxe4 7. Nxc6 Qd5
- Schliemann Defense, Schoenemann Attack1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d4
- Schliemann Defense, Tartakower Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6
- Schliemann Defense, Mohring Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Nxe5 dxe4 7. Nxc6 Qd5
- Schliemann Defense, Schonemann Attack1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d4
- Classical Defense, Benelux Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6
- Classical Defense, Boden Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7
- Classical Defense, Zaitsev Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O Nd4 5. b4
- Classical Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5
- Classical Variation, Central Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3
Related openings
Ruy Lopez: Alapin DefenseRuy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin GambitRuy Lopez: Brentano GambitRuy Lopez: Bulgarian VariationRuy Lopez: Cozio DefenseRuy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen VariationRuy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Tartakower GambitRuy Lopez: Fianchetto DefenseRuy Lopez: Fianchetto Defense, Kevitz GambitRuy Lopez: Lucena Variation