C80 · Open · a plan for White

Ruy Lopez: Open, Schlechter Defense

16/16
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-ONxe46.d4b57.Bb3d58.a4Nxd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Open, Schlechter Defense31 games · White to move
Only 31 games reach this position at this level — read it loosely.
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
87%2746%
13%425%
Famous games in this line8 master games
Giaccio, Alfredo Gustavo (2505) – Sorin, Ariel (2490)2000½–½Burgarth, Ulrich (2461) – Anderson, Brian W (2465)20121–0Valsecchi, A. (2490) – Loiseau, Q. (2412)2024½–½Feletar, Darko (2355) – Jusic, Zdenko (2375)1998½–½Villavicencio Martinez, Adalberto (2275) – Estremera Panos, Sergio (2355)19960–1Perina, Giuseppe (2300) – Ernst, Christoph (2305)2023½–½Popovic, Aleksandar M (2299) – Jovanovic, Alexandar (2201)20111–0Bartkiewicz, Bronislaw (2229) – Buczinski, Henryk (2219)2022½–½
Heroes of this opening Burgarth, Ulrich · Estremera Panos, Sergio · Popovic, Aleksandar M
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. a4 Nxd4
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, Berger VariationC80 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Nc3
Nearby lines in the family
Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark TrapC71 4…b5 5.Bb3 d6 6.d4 Nxd4 7.Nxd4 …Ruy Lopez: Open, Main LineC80 8.dxe5 Be6Ruy Lopez: Marshall AttackC89 5…Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 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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