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
C60 5 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4
Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit
C60 10 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4 4. c3 Ba5 5. Bxc6 dxc6
Ruy Lopez: Brentano Gambit
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g5
Ruy Lopez: Bulgarian Variation
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a5
Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7
Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation
C60 8 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. Nc3 g6
Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Tartakower Gambit
C60 16 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nge7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Qd2 d5
Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto Defense
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6
Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto Defense, Kevitz Gambit
C60 8 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 f5
Ruy Lopez: Lucena Variation
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Be7
Ruy Lopez: Nürnberg Variation
C60 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f6
← Back