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The Ruy Lopez, sometimes known as the Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 (in algebraic notation). The Ruy Lopez is one of the most popular openings. It has such a vast number of variants that in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings all codes from C60 to C99 are assigned to them.

History

The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Rúy López de Segura (pronounced ROOee LOpeth). He made a systematic study of this and other openings in a 150-page book on chess written in 1561 (which also included some more esoteric and unfair suggestions, such as setting up the board so the sun shines in one's opponent's eyes). However, although it is named after him, this particular opening was known earlier; it is included in the Göttingen manuscript, which dates from 1490. Popular use of the Ruy Lopez opening did not develop, however, until the mid 1800s when Jaenisch, a Russian theoretician, "rediscovered" its potential. The opening is still in active use as the double king's pawn opening most commonly used in master play; it has been adopted by almost all players at some point in their careers.

Basics

At the most basic level, White's third move attacks the knight which defends the e5 pawn from the attack by the f3 knight. It should be noted that White's apparent threat to win Black's e-pawn with 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5 is illusory — Black can respond with 5...Qd4, forking the knight and e4-pawn, and winning back the material with a good position. 3.Bb5 is still a good move, however: it develops a piece, prepares castling, and sets up a potential pin against Black's king. However, since White's third move carries no immediate threat, Black can respond in a wide variety of ways.

Main Variations

The theory if the Ruy Lopez is the most extensively developed of all the double king pawn openings. There are hundreds of variations, and some have been analyzed more than 30 moves deep. At the top level, it's convenient to split the possibilities based on whether Black responds with the Morphy Defence (3...a6). The variations with moves other than 3...a6 are older and generally simpler, but the Morphy Defence lines are more commonly played.

Black defences other than 3...a6

• 3...Bc5 (Classical or Cordel Defence)
• 3...Nge7 (Cozio Defence)
• 3...Nf6 (Berlin Defence)
• 3...Nd4 (Bird's Defence)
• 3...d6 (Steinitz Defence)
• 3...f5!? (Schliemann Defence)
• 3...g6 (Smyslov Defence)

The Classical Defence or Cordel Defence, 3...Bc5, is possibly the oldest defence to the Ruy Lopez, and it is still played occasionally. White's most common reply is 4.c3.

The Cozio Defence, 3...Nge7, is distinctly old-fashioned, and is perhaps the least popular of the defenses in this section. Bent Larsen used it with success, and it remains one of the least explored variations of the Ruy Lopez.

The Berlin Defence, 3...Nf6, is logical and solid, although it can be hard for Black to generate winning chances. Arthur Bisguier had played this line for decades, and it was later taken up by Alexei Shirov and other young grandmasters. Vladimir Kramnik used the Berlin Defence as a drawing variation against Garry Kasparov in their 2000 World Championship match. The Berlin most often continues 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 (5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nex5 is also reasonable) Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8. White is usually considered to have a small advantage in light of his somewhat better pawn structure and Black's awkwardly placed king, but Black, with a solid position and the bishop pair, has excellent drawing chances. Indeed, all four of the games in the Kasparov-Kramnik match with this opening ended in draws.

Bird's Defence, 3...Nd4, is an uncommon variation sometimes played in the hope of surprising White into making a mistake in unfamiliar positions. With careful play White is thought to be able to gain a small advantage.

The Steinitz Defence, 3...d6, is a solid but passive and cramped. Although the favorite of the first world champion Wilhelm Steinitz, it is rarely played today. The deferred variant of this defense (3...a6 4.Ba4 d6) is more popular.

The Schliemann Defence, 3...f5!?, is a very sharp line in which Black attempts to open the f-file for the attack, frequently sacrificing a pawn or two. Considered by many to be somewhat dubious, it has not been refuted and it is occasionally used in top-level play as a surprise weapon.

The Smyslov Defence, 3...g6, is a quiet positional system played ocassionally by Vassily Smyslov and Boris Spassky. It became popular in the 1980s when it was shown that 4.c3 a6! gives Black a good game. Later it was found that after 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 White has the advantage, and the variation is rarely played today.

Morphy Defence 3...a6

By far the most commonly played is the Morphy Defence, 3...a6, where Black "puts the question" to the white bishop. White has only two good options, 4.Bxc6 or 4.Ba4, as any other move allows Black to equalize easily. The main point to 4...a6 is that after the common retreat 4.Ba4, Black will have the possibility of breaking the pin on his queen knight by playing ...b5.

After 3...a6,

• 4.Ba4
  • 4...d6 (Steinitz Defence Deferred)
  • 4...f5 (Schliemann Defence Deferred)
  • 4...b5 5.Bb3 Na5 (Norwegian Defence)
  • 4...b5 5.Bb3 Bc5 (Møller Defence)
  • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 (Arkhangelesk Defence)
  • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 (Closed Defence)
  • 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 (Open Defense)
• 4.Bxc6 (Exchange Variation)

Exchange Variation

In the Exchange Variation, 4.Bxc6, White damages Black's pawn structure, giving him a ready-made long-term plan of swapping off the pieces and winning the pawn ending. Black has decent compensation, however, in the form of the bishop pair, and the variation is not considered White's most ambitious, though former world champions Emanuel Lasker and Bobby Fischer were quite successful with it.

After 4.Bxc6, Black almost always responds 4...dxc6, although 4...bxc6 is playable. After 4...dxc6, the obvious 5.Nex5? is weak, since 5...Qd4! (5...Qg5!?) 6.Nf3 Qxe4+ 7.Qe2 Qxe2+ leaves White with no compensation for Black's bishop pair.

There are two principal lines after 4.Bxc6 dxc6. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Lasker had great success with 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4. Since then, better lines for Black have been developed, and this line is considered to favor Black. Jon Jacobs wrote in the July 2005 Chess Life (p. 21): "A database search (limited to games longer than 20 moves, both players FIDE 2300+) reveals the position after 7.Nxd4 was reached 20 times from 1985-2002. White's results were abysmal: +0-7=13."

The flexible 5.O-O is sometimes called the Barengdt Variation, but it was Fischer who developed it into a serious weapon for White. Unlike 5.d4, it forces Black to defend his e-pawn, which he usually does with 5...f6, 5...Bg4, 5...Qd6 (the sharpest line, preparing queen-side castling), or 5...Bd6.

White may also delay the exchange for a move or two: 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 and only now 6.Bxc6 (the "Delayed Exchange Deferred"), for example; at first glance this seems like a simple waste of time, but Black having played Nf6 rules out defending the pawn with f6, and the bishop already being on e7 means that Bd6 would be a loss of tempo.

Steinitz Defence Deferred

In the Steinitz Defence Deferred (sometimes called the Modern Steinitz Defense), Black interpolates 3...a6 4.Ba4 before playing 4...d6. The possibility of breaking the pin with a timely ...b5 gives Black more latitude than in the Steinitz Defense itself. In particular, in the Steinitz Defence White can practically force Black to give up the center with ...exd4, but in the Steinitz Deferred, Black can hold the center if desired. Most of the plausible White moves are playable here, including 5.c3, 5.c4, 5.Bxc6, 5.d4, and 5.0-0. The sharp Siesta Variation arises after 5.c3 f5, while a manuevering game results from the calmer 5.c3 d6 6.d4. The game is also sharp after 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.d4 or 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5. The older lines starting with 5.c4 and 5.d4 are not as testing for Black.

Schliemann Defence Deferred

The Schliemann Defence Deferred, 3...a6 4.Ba4 f5, is not as popular as the regular Schliemann Defence. White can effectively answer with 5.d4! exd4 6.e5.

Norwegian Defence

The Norwegian Defence (also called the Wing Variation), is an aggressive but time-consuming alternative for Black. The game follows 3...a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Na5. The goal of the opening is to eliminate the white bishop. A speculative sacrifice is now 6.Bxf7+?!, which drives the black king out, but with accurate play, Black is supposed to be able to consolidate his extra piece.

Møller Defence

The Møller Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5, is a logical try that has only become popular relatively recently. For a century it was believed that it was more sound for Black to place the bishop on e7, but ...Bc5 is much more active. Similar lines result after the combination of 3...a6 and ...Bc5 with 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 or 5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5.

Arkhangelsk Defence

The Arkhangelsk Defence (or Archangel Defence) (ECO C78) was invented by Soviet theoreticians in the city of Arkhangelsk. The variation will often lead to sharp positions. White has several options which include building an ideal pawn center with c3 and d4, defending the e-pawn with Re1 or simply developing. The variation begins with 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7.

Open Defence

In the Open Defence, 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4, Black tries to make use of the time White will take to regain the pawn. Play usually continues 6.d4 b5 (6...exd4, the Riga Variation, is considered inferior; the main line runs 7.Re1 d5 8.Nxd4 Bd6! 9.Nxc6 Bxh2+! 10.Kh1! (10.Kxh2 Qh4+ 11.Kg1 Qxf2+ draws by perpetual check.) Qh4 11. Rxe4+! dxe4 12.Qd8+! Qxd8 13.Nxd8+ Kxd8 14.Kxh2 Be6 (14...f5?? 15.Bg5#!) and now the endgame is considered to favor White after 15.Be3 or Nd2 (but not 15.Nc3 c5!, playing to trap the bishop)) 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 and material balance is restored. This is a sharper line than many others in which Black has more freedom for his pieces than the closed variations. The variation has been adopted by a number of players, perhaps most notably by Viktor Korchnoi.

Closed Defence

In the main line, White normally retreats his bishop with 4.Ba4. The normal continuation is now 4...Nf6 5.O-O Be7. After 5...Be7, Black is actually threatening to win a pawn with 6...Nxe4 so White must respond.

After 4...Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

• 6.Bxc6 (Delayed Exchange Variation Deferred)
• 6.d3
• 6.d4 (Center Variation)
• 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7 (Trajkovic Variation)
• 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 (main lines)
• 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 (Marshall Attack)
• 6.Qe2 (Worrall Attack)

Trajkovic Variation

An alternative to 7...d6 is 7...Bb7. This is known as the Trajkovic Variation. Black may sacrifice a pawn with 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf4.

Main lines

Now 7...d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 (preventing 9...Bg4, which can be awkward for White) enter the main lines of the so-called "closed" Ruy Lopez, which can be considered the main line of the opening. Many hundreds of top-level games have reached this position. Black has a variety of choices here, the most commonly played options being 9...Na5 (the Chigorin Variation, freeing the pawn to go to c5), 9...Nb8 (the Breyer Variation, rerouting the knight to d7), 9...h6 (the Smyslov Variation), 9...Bb7 (the Zaitsev variation), 9...Nd7, and 9...Be6.

Marshall Attack

One of Black's more aggressive alternatives is the Marshall Attack: after 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 Black plays 8...d5, sacrificing a pawn with 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5. In exchange, Black has an attack on White's king: 11...c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4. This attack can be quite treacherous for White. In game 8 of the World Championship in 2004 between Vladimir Kramnik and Péter Lékó, Kramnik succumbed to Black's attack. A number of anti-Marshall systems have been developed, such as 8.a4 (instead of 8.c3).

Worrall Attack

An earlier alternative for White is 6.Qe2 (instead of 6.Re1), the Worrall Attack. The idea is that the queen will support the e-pawn, while the rook slides across to d1 to support the advance of the d-pawn (there isn't always time for this to happen, however). Paul Keres played the line several times. More recently, Sergei Tiviakov has played it, as has Nigel Short, who played it twice in his 1992 match against Anatoly Karpov and won both games.

References

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• Chess openings