C67 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Minckwitz Variation

11/11
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.O-ONxe45.d4Be76.dxe5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Minckwitz Variation7.1k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
82%5.8k51%
9.1%63957%
2.7%19042%
2.7%19045%
1.2%8543%
0.8%5444%
0.5%3321%
0.3%2322%
0.1%540%
0.1%510%
Famous games in this line119 master games
Bologan, Viktor (2684) – Malakhov, Vladimir (2721)20100–1Fedoseev, Vl3 (2677) – Malakhov, V. (2696)2014½–½Bartel, Mateusz (2609) – Malakhov, Vladimir (2722)20100–1Bologan, Viktor (2656) – Erdos, Viktor (2608)2011½–½Nunn, John DM (2585) – Speelman, Jonathan S (2615)1987½–½Polgar, Judit (2670) – Smyslov, Vassily (2480)1997½–½Tal, Mihail (2625) – Ivkov, Borislav (2515)1978½–½Smejkal, Jan (2515) – Smyslov, Vassily (2620)19721–0
Heroes of this opening Malakhov, Vladimir · Smejkal, Jan
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. dxe5
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, Center AttackC84 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d4Ruy Lopez: Closed, Morphy AttackC84 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Nc3Ruy Lopez: Open, Knorre VariationC80 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Nc3
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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