C65 · Open · a plan for White
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
6/6
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense8.7M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
15%1.3M51%
1.4%119k56%
1.2%106k58%
1.1%95k52%
0.1%4.6k40%
0%4.3k49%
Famous games in this line33k master games
Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, F. (2805) – Carlsen, M. (2876)Caruana, F. (2811) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Anand, V. (2816) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Caruana, F.. (2820) – Carlsen, M.. (2847)Carlsen, M. (2855) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2812)Carlsen, Magnus (2864) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2803)Carlsen, M. (2855) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2812)Heroes of this opening Caruana, F. · Carlsen, M.
- Family
- Ruy Lopez
- Category
- Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C65
- Line
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
SolidClassical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Halloween AttackC65 4.Nxe5Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin VariationC65 4.d3 · 5 deeper linesRuy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk VariationC65 4.O-O Bc5 · 3 deeper linesRuy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit AcceptedC67 4.O-O Nxe4 · 14 deeper lines
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