C64 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation

6/6
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Bc5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation7.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
44%3.1M54%
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Central Variation26%1.8M55%
18%1.3M48%
5.1%366k49%
4.4%318k49%
1.9%137k56%
0.3%24k48%
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Spanish Wing Gambit0.3%19k50%
0.3%19k41%
0.2%13k45%
Famous games in this line2.0k master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2753) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)2020½–½Duda, J. (2730) – Giri, A. (2780)20190–1Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2713) – Aronian, Levon (2783)2010½–½Anand, V. (2779) – Vallejo Pons, F. (2711)20161–0Grischuk, Alexander (2746) – Svidler, Peter (2739)2011½–½Vachier Lagrave, M. (2721) – Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2762)2024½–½Shirov, Alexei (2751) – Leko, Peter (2725)20001–0Leko, Peter (2741) – Adams, Michael (2729)2008½–½
Heroes of this opening Giri, A. · Anand, V. · Shirov, Alexei
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C64
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5
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, Central VariationC64 4.c3 · 4 deeper linesRuy Lopez: Classical Variation, Spanish Wing GambitC64 4.b4Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Boden VariationC64 4.c3 Qe7Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Cordel GambitC64 4.c3 f5
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Cozio DefenseC60 3…Nge7Ruy Lopez: Alapin DefenseC60 3…Bb4Ruy Lopez: Bird VariationC61 3…Nd4
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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