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: Berlin Defense, Rosenthal Variation
C67 10 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 a6
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Trifunovic Variation
C67 12 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 d5
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Winawer Attack
C67 17 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Zukertort Variation
C67 17 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. c4
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation
C67 10 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation, Berlin Wall Defense
C67 16 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation, Westerinen Line
C67 14 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Ne4
Ruy Lopez: Open Berlin Defense, Showalter Variation
C67 11 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Ba4
Ruy Lopez: Open Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation
C67 11 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation
C68 7 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alekhine Variation
C68 14 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd6
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Keres Variation
C68 9 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3
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