C64 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation

12/12
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.O-OBc55.c3O-O6.d4Bb6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation35k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Modern Main Line26%9.3k48%
25%8.7k47%
19%6.5k40%
16%5.6k44%
11%4.0k47%
0.9%31356%
0.7%24943%
0.7%23839%
0.6%20454%
0.3%9450%
Famous games in this line723 master games
Shirov, Alexei (2745) – Topalov, Veselin (2812)2009½–½Leko, Peter (2739) – Anand, Viswanathan (2790)2010½–½Topalov, Veselin (2796) – Karjakin, Sergey (2706)20091–0Anand, Viswanathan (2769) – Leko, Peter (2725)20001–0Naiditsch, Arkadij (2697) – Anand, Viswanathan (2788)2009½–½Shirov, Alexei (2751) – Leko, Peter (2725)20001–0Karjakin, Sergey (2732) – Aronian, Levon (2739)2008½–½Morozevich, Alexander (2742) – Leko, Peter (2713)20021–0
Heroes of this opening Topalov, Veselin · Anand, Viswanathan · Shirov, Alexei · Morozevich, Alexander
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C64
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Modern Main LineC64 7.Bg5
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga VariationC80 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 …Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth GambitC80 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh VariationC87 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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