C91 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Bogoljubow Variation

18/18
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.d4Bg4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Bogoljubow Variation114k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
32%36k49%
23%27k43%
18%20k58%
7.9%9.0k43%
6.1%6.9k46%
5.3%6.0k45%
3.2%3.6k43%
2.2%2.5k48%
1%1.1k46%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation, Short Attack0.8%88052%
Famous games in this line3.9k master games
Aronian, L.. (2781) – Carlsen, M.. (2847)20211–0Giri, A. (2784) – Carlsen, M. (2834)2015½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Ding Liren (2811)2019½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Ding Liren (2811)2019½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Ding Liren (2811)20191–0
Heroes of this opening Nepomniachtchi, I. · Aronian, L..
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C91
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation, Short AttackC91 10.a4
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Flohr SystemC92 9.h3 Bb7Ruy Lopez: Open, Berlin VariationC82 5…Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev SystemC92 9.h3 Re8
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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