C96 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko Variation

22/22
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.h3Na510.Bc2c511.d4Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko Variation24k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
51%12k55%
13%3.1k55%
12%2.7k57%
7.5%1.8k57%
6.8%1.6k53%
6.3%1.5k51%
2.5%58353%
1%23151%
0.7%16453%
0.1%2948%
Famous games in this line207 master games
Lautier, Joel (2666) – Xie, Jun (2564)2004½–½Timman, Jan H (2650) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2570)19851–0Sokolov, Andrei (2645) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2570)19870–1Bologan, Viktor (2676) – Sulskis, Sarunas (2530)20011–0Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2615) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2590)1985½–½Geller, Efim P (2590) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2610)1978½–½Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701) – Yang Kaiqi (2481)20221–0Tal, Mihail (2625) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2555)19871–0
Heroes of this opening Timman, Jan H · Romanishin, Oleg M · Bologan, Viktor · Maghsoodloo, Parham
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C96
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. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres DefenseC96 11…Nd7Ruy Lopez: Open, Breslau VariationC83 5…Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 …Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth VariationC82 5…Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 …
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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