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The Ruy Lopez, Overview

The Ruy Lopez starts with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest and most respected openings.

The Ruy Lopez

White plays e4, Nf3, and Bb5. Black plays e5 and Nc6. The bishop on b5 attacks the knight on c6.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Black challenges the bishop

Black plays a6 and White moves the bishop to a4. The bishop stays on the long diagonal and keeps pressure on the knight.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Castle next

White castles. The king is safe and the rook on f1 is in play, ready to move to e1.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • The Ruy Lopez begins like the Italian Game, but the bishop moves to b5 instead of c4.
  • The bishop on b5 attacks the knight on c6. That knight defends the pawn on e5.
  • White often castles next and then plays Re1 or c3. Those moves prepare a central pawn advance.
  • The Ruy Lopez leads to rich positions with many plans. Deep lines of the Ruy Lopez belong to later study.
  • This lesson is an overview only. Learn the first moves and the ideas, not long move sequences.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

What is White's third move in the Ruy Lopez?