C69 · Open · a plan for White
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Normal Variation
9/9
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6dxc65.O-O
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Normal Variation1.8M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
34%608k50%
5.2%93k37%
2.1%37k51%
1.4%24k41%
0.6%10k52%
0.5%9.8k55%
0.3%5.9k46%
Famous games in this line8.3k master games
Kamsky, Gata (2741) – Carlsen, Magnus (2862)Firouzja, Alireza (2767) – Carlsen, M. (2832)Nakamura, Hi (2777) – So, W. (2780)Nakamura, Hikaru (2783) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769)Nakamura, Hi (2777) – Aronian, L. (2767)Nisipeanu, LD. (2683) – Carlsen, M. (2850)Leko, Peter (2741) – Morozevich, Alexander (2788)Leko, Peter (2741) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2781)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Nakamura, Hi · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Leko, Peter
- 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
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Gligoric VariationC69 5…f6Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Bronstein VariationC69 5…Qd6Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, King's Bishop VariationC69 5…Bd6Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alapin GambitC69 5…Bg4 6.h3 h5
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