C96 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit

20/20
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.h3Na510.Bc2d5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit1.9k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
66%1.3k43%
16%30744%
13%25148%
4%7740%
0.7%1464%
0.4%838%
0.2%333%
0.1%150%
0.1%150%
Famous games in this line282 master games
Shirov, Alexei (2739) – Leko, Peter (2755)20071–0Adams, Michael (2729) – Carlsen, Magnus (2714)2007½–½Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2683) – Carlsen, Magnus (2714)2007½–½Kamsky, Gata (2726) – Miton, Kamil (2620)20081–0Volokitin, Andrei (2678) – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2635)20070–1Navara, David (2687) – Stevic, Hrvoje (2624)20091–0So, Wesley (2627) – Howell, David (2622)2009½–½Almasi, Zoltan (2674) – Stevic, Hrvoje (2571)20080–1
Heroes of this opening Shirov, Alexei · Kamsky, Gata · Wojtaszek, Radoslaw · Navara, David
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 d5
GambitClassical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich VariationC78 5…b5 6.Bb3 d6 7.Ng5 d5 8.exd5 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Zaitsev HybridC95 9…Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7Ruy Lopez: Open, Motzko Attack, Nenarokov 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.

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