C96 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense

22/22
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.h3Na510.Bc2c511.d4Nd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense11k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
53%5.7k47%
18%2.0k51%
8.8%94550%
6.4%69150%
5.8%63049%
2.8%30156%
1.9%20549%
1.9%20151%
0.3%3633%
0.2%1735%
Famous games in this line1.9k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2743)2002½–½Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769) – Karjakin, Sergey (2779)20121–0Kramnik, Vladimir (2807) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2734)2003½–½Leko, Peter (2732) – Karjakin, Sergey (2775)20121–0Kramnik, Vladimir (2807) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2699)2003½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2788) – Adams, Michael (2718)20051–0Leko, Peter (2749) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2754)2005½–½Leko, Peter (2763) – Adams, Michael (2737)20051–0
Heroes of this opening Leko, Peter · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Anand, Viswanathan
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 Nd7
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Ruy 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 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Rossolimo DefenseC96 10…c6 11.d4 Qc7
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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