C70 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation

10/10
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4b55.Bb3Bc5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation534k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
43%227k54%
41%220k55%
6.6%35k52%
2.8%15k60%
1.8%9.9k50%
1.4%7.2k55%
1%5.5k47%
1%5.3k51%
0.6%3.3k48%
0.3%1.3k54%
Famous games in this line61 master games
Vovk, Andrey (2567) – Mons, Leon (2453)2013½–½Tseshkovsky, Vitaly (2560) – Wittmann, Walter (2435)19831–0Wahls, Matthias (2550) – Mahdi, Khaled (2425)19950–1Kveinys, Aloyzas (2555) – Mahdi, Khaled (2420)19931–0Dvoirys, Semen I (2591) – Wittmann, Walter (2377)20001–0Kindermann, Stefan (2500) – Wittmann, Walter (2435)19831–0Lobron, Eric (2470) – Mariotti, Sergio (2455)1982½–½Salgado Lopez, Ivan (2630) – Wittmann, Walter (2291)20111–0
Heroes of this opening Tseshkovsky, Vitaly · Mahdi, Khaled · Kveinys, Aloyzas · Dvoirys, Semen I
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C70
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5
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…Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4Ruy Lopez: ClosedC84 4…Nf6 5.O-O Be7Ruy Lopez: Brix VariationC78 4…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.

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