for White · intermediate
Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)
5/5
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5
The most respected response to 1.e4 e5 at every level. White pressures the c6 knight to indirectly attack e5 and builds a long-term space and piece advantage. This opening rewards strategic depth.
Key ideas
- Pressure the c6 knight to weaken Black's hold on e5
- Follow the classic plan of c3 and d4 to establish a strong centre
- Reroute the light-squared bishop and knight via Nbd2-f1-g3 toward the kingside
- Build space gradually through steady pressure and accumulated advantages
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Ruy Lopez54.2M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
1.9%1.0M47%
1.2%637k43%
Famous games in this line162k master games
Caruana, F. (2818) – Carlsen, M. (2882)Carlsen, M. (2882) – Caruana, F. (2818)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, F. (2819) – Carlsen, M. (2875)Carlsen, M. (2882) – Ding Liren (2805)Caruana, F. (2805) – Carlsen, M. (2876)Anand, V. (2804) – Carlsen, M. (2876)Heroes of this opening Caruana, F. · Ding Liren · Anand, V.
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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