C70 · Open · a plan for White
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense
6/6
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense16.0M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
69%11.1M53%
0.7%120k46%
0.1%15k28%
0.1%10k46%
0%4.6k29%
0%3.5k22%
0%2.9k25%
0%2.0k39%
0%1.2k32%
Famous games in this line116k master games
Carlsen, M. (2882) – Caruana, F. (2818)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, F. (2819) – Carlsen, M. (2875)Carlsen, M. (2882) – Ding Liren (2805)Anand, V. (2804) – Carlsen, M. (2876)Carlsen, M. (2875) – Ding Liren (2805)Carlsen, Magnus (2862) – Aronian, Levon (2813)Carlsen, M. (2870) – Ding Liren (2801)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Ding Liren · Anand, V.
- Family
- Ruy Lopez
- Category
- Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C70
- Line
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
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 VariationC68 4.Bxc6 · 10 deeper linesRuy Lopez: Bird's Defense DeferredC70 4.Ba4 Nd4Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Cozio DefenseC70 4.Ba4 Nge7Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Caro VariationC70 4.Ba4 b5 · 4 deeper lines
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