C69 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Gligoric Variation

10/10
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6dxc65.O-Of6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Gligoric Variation270k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
56%152k53%
9.3%25k48%
8.1%22k47%
7.6%21k51%
7.4%20k44%
5%13k45%
3.1%8.5k45%
2.1%5.6k51%
0.6%1.6k43%
0.2%65041%
Famous games in this line3.0k master games
Kamsky, Gata (2741) – Carlsen, Magnus (2862)20130–1Nakamura, Hikaru (2783) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769)20120–1Nakamura, Hi (2746) – Anand, V. (2773)2018½–½Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2716) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2786)2008½–½Svidler, Peter (2735) – Aronian, Levon (2750)2007½–½Caruana, Fabiano (2721) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2764)20110–1Radjabov, Teimour (2751) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2731)2008½–½Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2703) – Grischuk, Alexander (2771)2010½–½
Heroes of this opening Ivanchuk, Vassily · Carlsen, Magnus
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 f6
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: OpenC80 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4Ruy Lopez: ClosedC84 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7Ruy Lopez: Brix VariationC78 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O g6
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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