C77 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Tarrasch Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3
♜♝♛♚♝♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♞♞♟♝♟♞♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♝♛♚♜
The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3, Black to move.

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Tarrasch Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

See how you play it

The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Tarrasch Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code C77. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3: 9 moves in, with Black to play.

It belongs to the Ruy Lopez family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.

Club players rarely lose the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Tarrasch Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

Play the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Tarrasch Variation? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →

Related openings

Ruy LopezRuy 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 Gambit

See how you play this opening