C97 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System

28/28
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.h3Na510.Bc2c511.d4Qc712.Nbd2Bd713.Nf1Rfe814.Ne3g6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System57 games · White to move
Only 57 games reach this position at this level — read it loosely.
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
37%2162%
16%978%
14%863%
8.8%540%
7%450%
5.3%367%
3.5%2100%
3.5%275%
1.8%10%
1.8%1100%
Famous games in this line7 master games
Arnason, J. (2499) – Hjartarson, J. (2566)20151–0Hort, Vlastimil (2560) – Unzicker, Wolfgang (2470)1985½–½Horvath, Tamas (2414) – Gonda, Laszlo (2550)2010½–½Ernst, Thomas (2450) – Hammar, Bengt (2355)19851–0Jandovský, Viktor (2326) – Kuta, Jirí (2427)20090–1Kubacsny, Laszlo (2365) – Kovacs, Laszlo M (2365)1997½–½Dyrgaard, K. (2251) – Pilgaard, K. (2384)2024½–½
Heroes of this opening Arnason, J. · Ernst, Thomas · Kuta, Jirí
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C97
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 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Modern Main LineC89 7…O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Alekhine GambitC88 8…Na5 9.Bc2 c5 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 …Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Re3 VariationC89 7…O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 …
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
Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Ruy Lopez ↗