Named after a 16th-century Spanish priest, the Ruy Lopez is the deepest opening in chess. Every world champion has played it. Every textbook covers it. Every aspiring master must know it.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
The Ruy Lopez after 3.Bb5
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
For: WhiteLevel: Intermediate to eliteType: Open gameFirst analyzed: Ruy López, 1561
The idea: long-term pressure, not immediate attack
Like the Italian Game, the Ruy Lopez starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 — both sides develop classically. But on move three, White makes a very different choice: instead of 3.Bc4 (pointing at f7), White plays 3.Bb5, pinning Black's knight on c6.
The knight on c6 is the only defender of Black's e5 pawn. By pinning it, White threatens (eventually) to capture the knight, double Black's pawns, and undermine the e5 pawn. This isn't a one-move threat — Black has plenty of resources — but the long-term pressure is real and lasting.
The Ruy Lopez is patient chess. Pieces maneuver. Pawns shuffle. Plans take 20 moves to mature. This is why it's so loved by positional players — and why it's been the chess of world champions for 150 years.
Why "Ruy Lopez"?
Ruy López de Segura was a Spanish bishop and chess theorist in the 16th century. He wrote one of the first systematic books on chess, published in 1561, in which he analyzed the move 3.Bb5 as White's strongest continuation. The opening has carried his name ever since. In Spanish-speaking countries it's often simply called "the Spanish" (la Apertura Española).
The major Black responses to 3.Bb5
Berlin Defense (3...Nf6)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
Black develops a knight and attacks the e4 pawn, ignoring the threat to the c6 knight. The most famous line is the Berlin Endgame after 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8 Kxd8 — queens are off, the position is symmetric and drawish, and Black holds the position even without castling rights.
Famous use: Vladimir Kramnik used the Berlin to draw every classical Ruy Lopez game against Garry Kasparov in their 2000 World Championship match, taking Kasparov's title. The Berlin is so solid it has been called "the drawing machine" — though modern engines have found ways to play for a win on both sides.
Morphy Defense / Closed Ruy (3...a6)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
The most common response to the Ruy Lopez at all levels — about 80% of Ruy Lopez games. Black attacks the bishop and asks White to make a decision. White almost always retreats with 4.Ba4, keeping the pin on the c6 knight. The game often continues 4...Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O, reaching the famous Closed Ruy Lopez.
From here, Black has many ways to organize: the Chigorin (with ...Na5), the Breyer (with ...Nb8 and ...Nbd7), the Zaitsev (with ...Bb7 and ...Re8), and the Marshall Attack (an aggressive pawn sacrifice).
Black sacrifices a pawn with 8...d5 for active piece play and a long-lasting initiative on the kingside. Black gets pieces firing at White's king while White is up a pawn but defending. Frank Marshall introduced this gambit against Capablanca in New York 1918 (and lost — but the idea was so good that 100+ years of theory have followed).
Many top players sidestep the Marshall with anti-Marshall lines (8.h3, 8.a4, or 8.d4 instead of 8.c3) because the Marshall theory is enormous.
Black grabs the e4 pawn. The result is an open, dynamic position with active piece play for both sides. Often played by attacking players who want concrete play. Black needs to know specific lines to avoid getting overrun, but the Open Ruy is fully sound.
Steinitz Defense (3...d6)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6
The classical, somewhat passive defense. Black solidly defends the e5 pawn but accepts cramped piece play. Named after the first world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, who pioneered defensive chess. Mostly seen now in its modernized form (the Steinitz Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 d6).
Bird's Defense (3...Nd4)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4
An unusual move where Black puts the knight on d4 immediately, offering a trade. Played occasionally for surprise value. Generally considered slightly worse for Black but not refuted.
The Exchange Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6
White trades the bishop for the knight immediately, doubling Black's c-pawns. This was Bobby Fischer's preferred way to handle the Ruy — he used it to crush opponents in the 1960s and '70s. The trade-off: White voluntarily gives up the bishop pair, but locks in a long-term structural advantage. In practice, this is one of the best ways for White to avoid huge amounts of theory and still play for a win.
Strategic ideas in the Ruy Lopez
The Closed Ruy Lopez is a textbook on positional chess. Some recurring themes:
The Spanish Bishop on b3. After ...a6 and ...b5, White's bishop retreats to b3, where it eyes the f7 square and stays out of trouble. Defending this bishop (and avoiding ...Na5 trades) is a central theme for White.
The d4-d5 question. White usually plays c3 and d4 to build a strong center. Black challenges with ...exd4 or ...Re8 + ...Bf8 setups. The timing of these breaks decides who has the better structure.
The maneuver Nbd2-f1-g3. White's queen knight often takes a long journey from b1 to g3 via d2 and f1, eventually attacking the kingside. Slow, but devastatingly effective.
The pawn break ...d5 for Black. Black often plays for ...d6-d5 in one move (a real pawn break) to open the position and free the light-squared bishop.
Famous Ruy Lopez games
Capablanca vs Marshall, New York 1918 — the introduction of the Marshall Attack. Marshall sprung it as a surprise; Capablanca defended brilliantly and won.
Karpov vs Korchnoi, World Championship 1978 — Karpov played the Ruy as White and built a clinic of slow positional pressure.
Kramnik vs Kasparov, World Championship 2000 — the famous Berlin Endgame games that earned Kramnik the title.
Carlsen vs Caruana, World Championship 2018 — multiple Ruy Lopez games at the highest level. All twelve classical games drew, but the depth of preparation was incredible.
How to play the Ruy Lopez as White
Play 1.e4 and aim for the Ruy Lopez against 1...e5.
Memorize the first 6-8 moves of the Closed Ruy main line. This is enough to reach a playable middlegame against most opponents.
Learn the typical strategic plans: pawn break d4, knight maneuver to g3, attacks on the kingside or queenside depending on Black's setup.
Be ready for the Berlin Defense (3...Nf6) — many opponents play it specifically to neutralize the Ruy.
If memorization is a problem, play the Exchange Variation (4.Bxc6). Much less theory, still very playable.
How to play against the Ruy Lopez as Black
Three practical choices:
Berlin Defense (3...Nf6) — solid, dry, almost impossible to lose if you know the basics.
Closed Ruy (3...a6, 4...Nf6, etc.) — the main highway. Lots of theory but rich positions.
Open Ruy (3...a6, 4...Nf6, 5...Nxe4) — dynamic, tactical, good for active players.
Common questions about this opening
What's the difference between the Ruy Lopez and the Italian Game?
Both start with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. The Italian Game plays 3.Bc4 (aiming at f7 for immediate tactics). The Ruy Lopez plays 3.Bb5 (pinning the c6 knight for long-term pressure). Italian is sharper; Ruy is more strategic.
Is the Ruy Lopez good for beginners?
The Ruy Lopez requires more positional understanding than the Italian Game. Beginners are usually better starting with the Italian and graduating to the Ruy once they reach intermediate level. That said, the Exchange Variation (4.Bxc6) is beginner-friendly and gets you into Ruy structures with much less theory.
Why do players say the Berlin Defense killed the Ruy Lopez?
After Kramnik used the Berlin to draw all his classical games against Kasparov in 2000, many top players avoided the Ruy because the Berlin was so reliable for Black. The opening has since recovered — modern players have found new ideas for White, and engines have shown the Berlin endgame is not as forced as previously believed.
What is the Marshall Attack?
A pawn sacrifice by Black in the Closed Ruy: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5. Black gives up the d-pawn for active piece play and a kingside attack. Theoretically very deep — many players sidestep it with anti-Marshall moves like 8.h3 or 8.a4.
Practice the Ruy Lopez
Start a game against the engine and play through the main Closed Ruy Lopez sequence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O). Then continue with the typical maneuvers (Nbd2, Nf1, Ng3, h3, etc.) and see how the position takes shape over the next 10-15 moves.
