C69 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alapin Gambit

12/12
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6dxc65.O-OBg46.h3h5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alapin Gambit156k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
71%111k51%
9%14k12%
6.5%10k51%
4.4%6.9k47%
3.8%5.9k47%
3.6%5.6k42%
0.6%86140%
0.2%37241%
0.2%2649%
0.1%17331%
Famous games in this line1.3k master games
Leko, Peter (2741) – Morozevich, Alexander (2788)2008½–½Ivanchuk, Vassily (2781) – Aronian, Levon (2737)2008½–½Radjabov, T. (2734) – Mamedyarov, S. (2765)2014½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2801) – Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2690)2007½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2739) – Shirov, Alexei (2742)20101–0Karjakin, Sergey (2739) – Shirov, Alexei (2742)20101–0Kamsky, Gata (2671) – Anand, Viswanathan (2803)2006½–½Radjabov, Teimour (2735) – Adams, Michael (2726)2008½–½
Heroes of this opening Karjakin, Sergey
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C69
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5
GambitClassical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga VariationC80 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 exd4Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth GambitC80 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 d5Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh VariationC87 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 d6
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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