Open · a plan for White
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense
6/6
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense12.5M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
25%3.1M56%
17%2.1M53%
12%1.5M57%
8.9%1.1M56%
4.9%613k52%
3.2%399k52%
0.2%23k51%
0.2%21k53%
0.1%13k55%
Famous games in this line668 master games
Karjakin, Sergey (2779) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769)Grischuk, Alexander (2763) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769)Leko, P. (2723) – Aronian, L. (2797)Bologan, Viktor (2732) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769)Duda, J. (2730) – Nakamura, Hi (2745)Duda, J. (2730) – Nakamura, Hi (2745)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780) – Andriasian, Z. (2604)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2758) – Ehlvest, Jaan (2613)Heroes of this opening Nakamura, Hi · Karjakin, Sergey · Grischuk, Alexander · Aronian, L.
- Family
- Ruy Lopez
- Category
- Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C62
- Line
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6
Classical
★ Read the guide: Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)Explore all 234 Ruy Lopez lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Center Gambit4.d4 exd4 5.O-ORuy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Semi-Duras Variation4.d4 Bd7 5.c4Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense, Nimzowitsch Attack4.d4 Bd7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bxc6Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Tarrasch Trap4.d4 Bd7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.O-O Be7 …
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Ruy López de Segura was a Spanish priest whose 1561 book set out 3.Bb5 as a system; the move itself is already in the Göttingen manuscript, written around 1500. The 'Spanish torture' has been a world-championship battleground ever since: slow pressure, forever.
Study this opening