C80 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Open, Karpov Gambit

21/21
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-ONxe46.d4b57.Bb3d58.dxe5Be69.Nbd2Nc510.c3d411.Ng5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Open, Karpov Gambit284 games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
78%22245%
8.5%2429%
7%2045%
3.2%922%
1.8%520%
1.1%367%
0.4%10%
Famous games in this line98 master games
Kasparov, Garry (2849) – Shirov, Alexei (2718)20011–0Kasparov, Garry (2795) – Anand, Viswanathan (2725)19951–0Kasparov, Garry (2795) – Anand, Viswanathan (2725)1995½–½Shirov, Alexei (2725) – Anand, Viswanathan (2782)2004½–½Grischuk, Alexander (2710) – Anand, Viswanathan (2786)2005½–½Svidler, Peter (2713) – Anand, Viswanathan (2781)1999½–½Morozevich, Alexander (2743) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2722)2004½–½Karpov, Anatoly (2725) – Kortschnoj, Viktor (2665)1978½–½
Heroes of this opening 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 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Ng5
GambitClassical
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Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Open, Malkin VariationC83 9.c3 Be7 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Qe2Ruy Lopez: Closed, Balla VariationC88 5…Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 …Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich VariationC78 5…b5 6.Bb3 d6 7.Ng5 d5 8.exd5 …
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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