C77 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Wormald Attack

9/9
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.Qe2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Wormald Attack145k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
63%91k44%
13%19k42%
11%16k43%
11%15k42%
0.6%80044%
0.5%77138%
0.2%28033%
0.1%17247%
0.1%16935%
0.1%15340%
Famous games in this line2.3k master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2817) – Carlsen, Magnus (2815)20110–1Svidler, Peter (2765) – Anand, Viswanathan (2792)2006½–½Tiviakov, Sergei (2662) – Carlsen, Magnus (2810)2010½–½Adams, Michael (2729) – Kamsky, Gata (2714)20070–1Adams, Michael (2734) – Shirov, Alexei (2699)2007½–½Tiviakov, Sergei (2670) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2756)2010½–½Adams, Michael (2729) – Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2690)20071–0Rapport, R. (2715) – Artemiev, V. (2701)2024½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Kamsky, Gata · Adams, Michael
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C77
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Qe2
AggressiveClassical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Wormald Attack, Grünfeld VariationC77 5…b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.d4 d6 8.c3 …
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe GambitC77 5.c3Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Nyholm AttackC65 3…Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-ORuy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center GambitC62 3…d6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O
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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