C68 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Romanovsky Variation

11/11
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bxc6dxc65.Nc3f66.d3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Romanovsky Variation24k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
22%5.2k56%
19%4.5k54%
19%4.5k57%
13%3.2k52%
11%2.7k63%
7.3%1.8k65%
6.9%1.7k57%
0.5%13142%
0.4%10250%
0.3%6639%
Famous games in this line20 master games
Karthikeyan, M2. (2593) – Adhiban, Baskaran (2676)20191–0Gelashvili, Tamaz (2510) – Cela, Altin (2450)1998½–½Appleberry, Martin (2370) – Kishnev, Sergey (2510)19930–1Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios (2461) – Sundararajan, Kidambi (2408)20021–0De Dovitiis, Alejo (2345) – Sorin, Ariel (2496)2005½–½Gdanski, Jacek (2420) – Panczyk, Krzysztof (2415)19910–1Rozentalis, E. (2513) – Xylogiannopoulos, A. (2279)20171–0Marzolf, Bruno (2254) – Bojkov, Dejan (2520)20070–1
Heroes of this opening Karthikeyan, M2. · Kishnev, Sergey · Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios · Panczyk, Krzysztof
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C68
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 f6 6. d3
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center AttackC84 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d4Ruy Lopez: Closed, Morphy AttackC84 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Nc3Ruy Lopez: Open, Knorre VariationC80 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Nc3
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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