C70 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Bird's Defense Deferred

8/8
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Bird's Defense Deferred21k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
49%10k61%
20%4.2k59%
18%3.7k34%
9.3%2.0k61%
2.3%49762%
1.3%28753%
0.3%5852%
0.1%1966%
0.1%1563%
0.1%1354%
Famous games in this line1 master games
Reichmann, Egon (2280)Milicevic, Miodrag (2295)19931–0
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C70
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nd4
Classical
Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines
Keep exploring
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