Chess opening · ECO C60
Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 is the Ruy Lopez. The bishop does not threaten anything right away, but it targets the c6 knight, which is Black's main guard of e5. White plans to castle, play c3 and d4, and build pressure that lasts deep into the middlegame. Black's replies split into three families: ...a6, ...Nf6 and ...d6.
- Rank by weighted share
- #18 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
- 2. Nf3The knight develops toward the center and attacks e5 on its first move. Much of White's play in this opening, including the bishop's trip to b5, is about making that attack on e5 real.
- 3. Bb5The bishop pins nothing yet, since Black's d7 pawn still covers the diagonal to e8. Its job is to bother the c6 knight, so that a later capture on c6 or a d4 push can loosen Black's hold on e5.
Why Nxe5 is not a threat yet
Trading on c6 and grabbing the pawn backfires early on. After 3...a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5, Black plays 5...Qd4, attacking the knight and the e4 pawn at once, and gets the pawn back with 6.Nf3 Qxe4+.
That is why Black can spend move three on ...a6, ...Nf6 or ...d6 without losing e5. The pressure grows only once White has castled and the e4 pawn is covered.
Three ways Black answers
3...a6, the Morphy Defense, asks the bishop to choose between capturing and retreating to a4. 3...Nf6, the Berlin, counterattacks e4. 3...d6, the Steinitz, props up e5 with a pawn but leaves the c6 knight pinned against the king. Each has its own page.
The long squeeze
In the main lines White often keeps the bishop on the a2 to g8 diagonal after ...b5, plays h3 to stop ...Bg4, and prepares d4. Black gains queenside space and tries to strike with ...d5 or ...c5.
A closed main line
3... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3
Both kings are castled and the center is still closed. White's bishop sits on b3 aiming at f7, c3 prepares d4, and h3 keeps a black bishop off g4. Black has queenside space and will often reroute the c6 knight to a5.
Top replies by rating
a6 leads from 1600 up, by a wide gap from 1800. Below 1600 the top spot is tight: a6 and Nf6 are a point apart under 1400, and d6 edges ahead in the 1400 to 1599 band.
Questions
Why doesn't White take on c6 right away?
Bxc6 gives up the bishop pair, and with the e4 pawn loose it does not win e5. Many lines keep the bishop and save the capture for a moment when it does damage Black's structure.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.