C81 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack

17/17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-ONxe46.d4b57.Bb3d58.dxe5Be69.Qe2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack4.9k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
41%2.0k47%
36%1.8k43%
18%88348%
3.8%18942%
1.3%6428%
0.3%1644%
0.2%838%
0.1%510%
0.1%475%
0.1%333%
Famous games in this line667 master games
Caruana, F. (2808) – Mamedyarov, S. (2800)20170–1Nakamura, Hikaru (2736) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0Caruana, F. (2804) – Giri, A. (2790)2016½–½Giri, A. (2782) – Mamedyarov, S. (2801)20180–1Giri, A. (2782) – Mamedyarov, S. (2801)2018½–½Carlsen, M. (2830) – Praggnanandhaa, R. (2747)2024½–½Caruana, F. (2807) – Giri, A. (2769)20161–0Carlsen, M. (2832) – Mamedyarov, S. (2733)20241–0
Heroes of this opening Mamedyarov, S. · Nakamura, Hikaru · Caruana, F. · Carlsen, M.
Family
Ruy Lopez
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C81
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. 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: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom VariationC81 9…Be7 10.Rd1 O-O 11.c4 bxc4 12.Bxc4 …
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy 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 …Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin VariationC90 5…Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 …
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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