C80 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation

17/17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-ONxe46.d4b57.Bb3d58.dxe5Be69.Nbd2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation20k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
61%12k49%
21%4.1k46%
10%2.0k51%
6.2%1.2k42%
0.7%14428%
0.7%13439%
0.4%7423%
0.3%5442%
0.2%3546%
0.1%2839%
Famous games in this line3.3k master games
Caruana, F. (2822) – Mamedyarov, S. (2801)20181–0Kramnik, V. (2777) – Mamedyarov, S. (2817)2019½–½Nakamura, Hi (2736) – Carlsen, M.. (2847)20211–0Karjakin, Sergey (2779) – Caruana, F. (2804)2016½–½Caruana, F. (2805) – Giri, A. (2773)2015½–½Kasparov, Garry (2849) – Shirov, Alexei (2718)20011–0Harikrishna, P. (2752) – Caruana, F. (2808)2016½–½Caruana, F. (2783) – Nakamura, Hi (2772)2014½–½
Heroes of this opening Caruana, F. · Nakamura, Hi · Kasparov, Garry
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C80
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Open, Bernstein Variation, Luther LineC80 9…Bc5 10.Qe1Ruy Lopez: Open, Karpov GambitC80 9…Nc5 10.c3 d4 11.Ng5
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell AttackC81 9.Qe2Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates VariationC91 5…Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Pilnik VariationC90 5…Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.d3 …
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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