Ruy Lopez

The main line

The Ruy Lopez is reached by 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (ECO C60). It's one of 234 named lines under this opening in the book.

Named variations (34)

The most common 30 of 34 named variations:

• Closed — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 (C84)
• Morphy Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 (C70)
• Open — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 (C80)
• Berlin Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 (C65)
• Exchange Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 (C68)
• Schliemann Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 (C63)
• Classical Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 (C64)
• Marshall Attack — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 (C89)
• Steinitz Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 (C62)
• Spanish Countergambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 (C60)
• Cozio Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 (C60)
• Classical Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 (C64)
• Fianchetto Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 (C60)
• Alapin Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4 (C60)
• Bird Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 (C61)
• Open Berlin Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Ba4 (C67)
• Steinitz Defense Deferred — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 Bg4 (C79)
• 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 (C71)
• Brentano Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g5 (C60)
• Bulgarian Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a5 (C60)
• Nürnberg Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f6 (C60)
• Rotary-Albany Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 b6 (C60)
• Lucena Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Be7 (C60)
• Pollock Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5 (C60)
• Retreat Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8 (C60)
• Vinogradov Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Qe7 (C60)
• Halloween Attack — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nxe5 (C65)
• Bird's Defense Deferred — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nd4 (C70)
• Closed Berlin Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Nd7 (C66)
• Brix Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O g6 (C78)

Analyze the Ruy Lopez

Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.

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