C91 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation

17/17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.c3O-O9.d4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation197k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
25%49k47%
9.2%18k45%
5.4%11k48%
3.2%6.2k48%
2.3%4.6k46%
0.6%1.2k37%
0.5%91448%
0.4%82747%
0.3%57922%
Famous games in this line4.0k master games
Aronian, L.. (2781)Carlsen, M.. (2847)20211–0Giri, A. (2784)Carlsen, M. (2834)2015½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776)Ding Liren (2811)2019½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776)Ding Liren (2811)2019½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776)Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776)Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776)Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776)Ding Liren (2811)20191–0
Heroes of this opening Nepomniachtchi, I. · Aronian, L..
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C91
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. d4
Classical
Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nearby lines in the family
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