C67 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall

18/18
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.O-ONxe45.d4Nd66.Bxc6dxc67.dxe5Nf58.Qxd8+Kxd89.Nc3Bd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall4.9k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
23%1.1k44%
19%94547%
16%78042%
14%69647%
8.8%43445%
8.2%40543%
4.9%24245%
2.2%10743%
1.2%6033%
0.9%4460%
Famous games in this line1.6k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2827) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2797)2001½–½Kasparov, Garry (2849) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2770)2000½–½Kasparov, Garry (2849) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2770)2000½–½Grischuk, A. (2783) – Aronian, L. (2803)2013½–½Grischuk, Alexander (2764) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2810)20130–1Karjakin, Sergey (2788) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2781)20111–0Karjakin, Sergey (2776) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2785)20111–0Ponomariov, Ruslan (2743) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2807)2002½–½
Heroes of this opening Karjakin, Sergey · Kramnik, Vladimir
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C67
Line
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 9. Nc3 Bd7
SolidClassical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Flohr SystemC92 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 …Ruy Lopez: Open, Berlin VariationC82 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev SystemC92 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 …
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
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