C60 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense

6/6
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Bb4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense57k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
46%26k59%
29%16k59%
18%10k55%
4.6%2.6k54%
1.9%1.1k54%
0.1%5751%
0.1%5060%
0.1%4658%
0.1%4657%
0.1%3450%
Famous games in this line122 master games
Karjakin, Sergey (2771)Carlsen, M. (2881)20140–1Meier, Geo (2647)Carlsen, M. (2834)20180–1Grigoriants, S RUS. (2568)Carlsen, M. (2834)20180–1Stevic, Hrvoje (2624)Sedlak, Nikola (2571)2009½–½Balogh, Csaba (2608)Sedlak, Nikola (2550)20111–0Efimenko, Zahar (2689)Markovic, Miroslav (2458)2012½–½Sax, Gyula (2605)Hector, Jonny (2465)19900–1Polgar, Zsuzsa (2530)Hector, Jonny (2535)19921–0
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Balogh, Csaba · Hector, Jonny · Polgar, Zsuzsa
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C60
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4
Classical
Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives

Ruy López de Segura was a 16th-century Spanish priest whose 1561 book systematized 3.Bb5 — alongside advice like seating your opponent facing the sun. The 'Spanish torture' has been a world-championship battleground from Steinitz to Carlsen: slow pressure, forever.

Study this opening