C65 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Nyholm Attack

9/9
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.d4exd45.O-O
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Nyholm Attack23k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
34%7.9k40%
20%4.6k45%
18%4.2k37%
16%3.7k45%
9.1%2.1k42%
1.1%26043%
0.7%17140%
0.6%14219%
0.4%10041%
0.2%4929%
Famous games in this line151 master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2835) – Aronian, Levon (2825)20120–1Carlsen, Magnus (2837) – Karjakin, Sergey (2779)20121–0Gashimov, Vugar (2758) – Karjakin, Sergey (2723)20091–0Gashimov, Vugar (2703) – Eljanov, Pavel (2720)20081–0Fressinet, Laurent (2606) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2809)20020–1Gharamian, T. (2657) – Fressinet, L. (2708)20140–1Fressinet, Laurent (2654) – Bacrot, Etienne (2695)2007½–½Mamedov, Rau (2652) – Matlakov, M. (2685)2014½–½
Heroes of this opening Gashimov, Vugar · Aronian, Levon · Carlsen, Magnus · Kramnik, Vladimir
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C65
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O
SolidAggressiveClassical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe GambitC77 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.c3Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Wormald AttackC77 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center GambitC62 3…d6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O
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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