Opening Overview
Ruy Lopez
234 linesAbout 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: Morphy Defense, Classical Defense Deferred
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Bc5
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Cozio Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nge7
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Fianchetto Defense Deferred
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 g6
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. Bxf7+
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Schliemann Defense Deferred
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Schliemann Defense Deferred, Jaenisch Gambit Deferred
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5 5. exf5
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Nc3
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c4
Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 d6 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4 c5