C67 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation

16/16
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.O-ONxe45.d4Be76.Qe2Nd67.Bxc6bxc68.dxe5Nf5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation346 games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
37%12953%
28%9757%
15%5146%
14%4942%
1.4%550%
1.2%425%
1.2%475%
0.9%367%
0.9%367%
0.3%10%
Famous games in this line81 master games
Dominguez Perez, L. (2754) – Ivanchuk, V. (2731)2013½–½Efimenko, Z. (2652) – Kovalenko, I. (2682)20150–1Hovhannisyan, R. (2634) – Martirosyan, Haik M. (2616)20190–1Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2684) – Kosten, Anthony C (2513)20091–0Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2610) – Spassky, Boris V (2565)1988½–½Ulibin, Mikhail (2585) – Vladimirov, Evgeny (2575)19921–0Spassky, Boris V (2605) – Rohde, Michael A (2530)1987½–½Morovic Fernandez, Ivan (2525) – Spassky, Boris V (2605)1987½–½
Heroes of this opening Kovalenko, I. · Martirosyan, Haik M. · Vachier Lagrave, Maxime · Ulibin, Mikhail
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 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5
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: Noah's Ark TrapC71 3…a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 d6 6.d4 …Ruy Lopez: Open, Main LineC80 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 …Ruy Lopez: Marshall AttackC89 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.

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