C95 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Zaitsev Hybrid

20/20
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.h3Nb810.d4Nbd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Zaitsev Hybrid66k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
67%45k50%
12%7.9k49%
8.4%5.5k48%
3.1%2.0k44%
2.8%1.9k47%
2%1.3k43%
1.7%1.1k51%
1.2%80958%
0.4%29343%
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense0.2%16252%
Famous games in this line7.5k master games
Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784) – Carlsen, M.. (2862)2021½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2767) – Carlsen, Magnus (2868)20130–1Anand, Viswanathan (2800) – Carlsen, Magnus (2826)2010½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2800) – Carlsen, Magnus (2826)2010½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2800) – Carlsen, Magnus (2826)2010½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2804) – Carlsen, Magnus (2802)20101–0Anand, V. (2767) – Carlsen, M. (2834)2018½–½Topalov, Veselin (2775) – Carlsen, Magnus (2815)2011½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Anand, Viswanathan
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C95
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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich VariationC78 5…b5 6.Bb3 d6 7.Ng5 d5 8.exd5 …Ruy Lopez: Open, Motzko Attack, Nenarokov VariationC82 5…Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski GambitC96 9…Na5 10.Bc2 d5
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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