Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game)

1. Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game) The starting position of the Ruy Lopez is reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5.

2. Ruy Lopez (Classical--Benelux Variation) • 3. … Bc5 • c3 Nf6 • O-O O-O • d4 Bb6 • Or • 3. … Bc5 • 4. O-O Nf6 • 5. c3 O-O • 6. d4 Bb6 • Leads to solid positioning for both white (42% win) and black (27% win) and 31% draw.

3. Ruy Lopez (Classical--Cordel Variation) • e4 e5 • Nf3 Nc6 • Bb5 Bc5 • c3 f5!? • exf5 e4 • d4 exf3 • dxc5 fxg2 • Rg1 Nf6 • Rxg2 Qe7+ • Qe2 Qxe2+ • Kxe2 O-O • Bh6 Ne8 • Leads to sharp lines of play, very messy and risky, lowering black’s chances of a draw.

4. Ruy Lopez (Morphy Defense) The Morphy Defense (3. ... a6) is by far Black's most popular third move in the Ruy Lopez. It immediately puts the question to White's bishop, and after 4. Ba4, Black may choose to break the pin on his knight by playing b5.

5. Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation) While White's most popular 4th move is to retreat the bishop to a4, 4. Bxc6 is also common. Black will usually recapture with the d-pawn, although it is also possible to do so with the b-pawn. The Exchange Variation was popularized most recently by Bobby Fischer. White damages Black's pawn structure, and will usually try to trade pieces to get into a favorable endgame. However, despite its reputation, some lines of the Exchange Variation also allow for middlegame attacking chances.

6. Ruy Lopez (Closed Variation) The Closed Ruy Lopez (beginning with 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7) is a popular system at all levels, and offers a variety of plans for both sides. It is extremely flexible for Black; both players will have a complex game. The main line continues 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0.

7. Ruy Lopez (Open Variation) The Open Variation (4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4) is not quite as popular as the Closed Ruy Lopez, but it does have its adherents. Black typically does not intend to hold onto his extra pawn, but rather improve his position while White spends time regaining the lost material. There are numerous complex sub-variations available for both sides, some of which have been analyzed beyond the 20th move for each player.

8. Ruy Lopez (Marshall Attack) The Marshall Attack was the invention of American master Frank Marshall, who saved it for use against Jose Raul Capablanca in 1918. While Capablanca refuted it over the board and won that game, further refinements to the opening have turned it into one of Black's most feared weapons in the Ruy Lopez. The Marshall Attack is reached after 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5. It features many forcing moves that require players to know theory in order to successfully navigate the opening, and because of this, many White players choose to play "anti-Marshall" systems that avoid these lines. There are also some lines in which White may force early draws. It should be clear now just how complex the Ruy Lopez can be - and we've only scratched the surface of the lines available in this rich opening system.

9. Ruy Lopez (Schliemann Defense) The Schliemann Defense (3 ... f5) is a popular try for Black in the amateur ranks. This gambit leads to wild positions in which White must know certain theoretical lines in order to escape with an advantage. Conversely, an unprepared White player will struggle to navigate the challenges posed by Black. White's best response is 4. Nc3, but Black certainly has many ways to create an interesting and tactical game. At higher levels, where White is more likely to be prepared, the Schliemann Defense is used only rarely as a surprise weapon. This opening is also known as the Jaenisch Gambit.

10. Ruy Lopez (Bird Defense) The Bird Defense (3. ... Nd4) is an offbeat try for Black that can sometimes surprise an unprepared White player. However, after 4. Nxd4 exd4, White will usually emerge with a small advantage due to having the better pawn structure.

11. Ruy Lopez (Steinitz Defense) The Steinitz Defense (3. ... d6) was popularized by the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz. While it is solid, it leaves Black with a passive position, making it an unpopular defense in modern play.

12. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense) The Berlin Defense is reached if Black plays Nf6 on his third move. It gained a great deal of popularity after Vladimir Kramnik used it in his victory over Garry Kasparov in their match for the World Championship. Known for being very solid, the Berlin Defense is often used as a weapon for drawing as Black by strong players who are familiar with the key lines.

13. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense—Nxe4/a6) • O-O Nxe4 • d4 a6 • Bxc6 d7xc6 • Re1 Nf6 • Re5+ • or • Re1 Bf5 (f5) • d4xe5 … • Open access to queens but after white has castled while black has not. Position favors white.

14. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense—Nxe4/Nd6) • O-O Nxe4 • d4 Nd6 • Bxc6 d7xc6 • d4xe5 Nf5 • Qxd8+ Kxd8 • White blocks black from castling and has slightly superior position.

15. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense—Classical Variation) • O-O Bc5 • Nxe5 Nxe4 • Qe2 Nxe5 • Qxe4 Qe7 • Nc3 Ng6 • Qxe7 Bxe7 • Nd5 Bd6 • Re1+ Kd8 • White prevents black from castling. • or • 4. O-O Bc5 • 5. c3 O-O • d4 Bb6 • Equal positions.

16. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense—Trap Variation_1) • O-O Ng4 • h3 h5 • h3xg4 h5xg4 • Ne1 Qh4 • F4 g3 • White must resign since checkmate is inevitable with Qh1.

17. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense—Trap Variation_2) • O-O Ng4 • Re1 Bc5 • d4 Nxd4 • Nxd4 Qh4 • Nf3 Qxf2+ • Kh1 Qg1+ • Nxg1 Nf2# • White is checkmated.

18. Ruy Lopez (Berlin Defense—Trap Escape) • O-O Ng4 • h3 h5 • D3 (Kc5) Bc5 • This move sequence avoids the traps and results in equal positions, relying on tactics for rest of game. Of course, knight at g4 still can’t be taken because of mating possibilities.