Opening Overview

Ruy Lopez

234 lines
white repertoire

About This Opening

White develops the bishop to b5 and targets the knight that defends the center.

The opening's main value is its characteristic move order, which helps steer the game toward familiar structures and plans.

When studying it, focus on the first forcing decisions, the main branching points, and the kind of middlegames the opening is designed to reach.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: recognize the key move order early.
  • Learn the first critical branching decisions.
  • Best for players who want a repeatable repertoire line.
  • Understand the resulting pawn structure and piece placement.

Choose a variation

Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5
Ruy Lopez: Retreat Variation
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8
Ruy Lopez: Rotary-Albany Gambit
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 b6
Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5
Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Countergambit, Fricke Gambit
C60 9 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. O-O
Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit
C60 9 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxc6
Ruy Lopez: Vinogradov Variation
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Qe7
Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation
C61 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4
Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation
C61 10 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O Ne7
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense
C62 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense
C62 7 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit
C62 9 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O
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