ChessThe Ruy Lopez is 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. White's bishop jumps to b5 and puts pressure on the knight that protects e5. It isn't trying to win material right away. Instead it squeezes Black little by little. For hundreds of years it has been one of the favorite openings of strong players, and you'll see it often when you play chess online.
Moves and position
The first two moves are the same as the Italian Game. On move three the bishop goes somewhere else:
1. e4 e5the two pawns meet head to head in the center.2. Nf3 Nc6White's knight attacks e5 and Black's knight defends it.3. Bb5White's bishop pressures the black knight on c6.
Note: White can't win a pawn yet. Even if the bishop takes the knight on c6 and the knight then takes e5, Black's queen can come out and win the pawn back. So the pressure in the Ruy Lopez builds up slowly, not all at once.
What White wants
- Pressure e5: if the knight on c6 gets traded off or chased away, nobody is left to protect the e5 pawn.
- Castle first, then push d4: White usually castles, then builds a big center with c3 and d4.
- Play the long game: Ruy Lopez games often go on for a long time. White relies on more space and active pieces to slowly push Black into a mistake.
What Black wants
3... a6: chase the bishop with a pawn and ask White, "Are you taking, or backing off?" This is the main reply, called the Morphy Defense.3... Nf6: ignore the bishop and bring out the knight to hit e4. This is the Berlin Defense, famous for being very hard to break.- Either way, Black has to remember that the e5 pawn is the key and keep an eye on its protection.
Main lines
Morphy Defense: 3... a6 4. Ba4
Chased by a6, the white bishop first steps back to a4 and keeps pinning the knight. Black develops, castles and uses b5 to push the bishop on to b3. This position has been studied for more than a hundred years, and it's still a regular in professional chess.
Berlin Defense: 3... Nf6
Black takes the e4 pawn first, White opens the center with d4, and the queens get traded. The black king stays in the center. It looks odd, but the position is very solid. One story says a world champion once held firm with it in a title match, which is why this line got the nickname "the Berlin Wall."
Exchange Variation: 4. Bxc6
White gives up the bishop for the knight to damage Black's pawns (two pawns on the c-file). White's plan: trade more pieces, reach an endgame, and let the side with the better pawns come out ahead.
A common trap: the Noah's Ark Trap
This is the classic case of White grabbing a pawn and getting the bishop trapped. Black starts with 3... a6, then uses d6 and b5 to chase the white bishop to b3:
The problem is that once the white queen takes, Black's pawns march right in:
If the white bishop goes to a4, the b5 pawn takes it. If it takes the pawn on c4, the b5 pawn takes it back. The most White can get is two pawns for the bishop, which means White has basically lost a piece. This trap is very old. One story says it's "as old as Noah's Ark," and that's how it got its name.
Avoiding it is easy for White: on move 8, don't take on d4 with the queen. Play 8. c3 to give a pawn, or 8. Bd5 to get the bishop out first. Remember this: when pawns keep chasing your bishop around, leave it a way out.
Who it suits
- Players who like a long game: the Ruy Lopez doesn't go for a quick win. It slowly squeezes.
- Players who want to learn chess properly: it holds nearly every opening lesson there is: the center, development, pawn structure, the endgame.
- Black players who want a solid game: try the Berlin Defense. It's very hard to knock down.
It's a lot like the Italian Game. The difference is where the bishop goes: the Italian puts it on c4 to aim straight at f7, while the Ruy Lopez puts it on b5 to pressure the knight. The ideas are slower and deeper.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Ruy Lopez, and why is it also called the Spanish Game?
One story says that in the 16th century a Spanish priest named Ruy López studied this opening closely in his chess book. So English speakers usually call it by his name, and many other languages call it the Spanish Game.
After 3. Bb5, can White win the e5 pawn right away?
No. For example, after 3... a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nxe5, Black plays 5... Qd4, hitting both the white knight and the e4 pawn, and soon wins the pawn back. Only after White castles and guards e4 with Re1 does the threat become real.
Is the Ruy Lopez good for beginners?
Yes, but it's a good idea to learn the Italian Game first. The ideas in the Ruy Lopez are deeper, and its benefits often only show up in the middlegame. The Italian Game is more direct and easier to pick up.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Ruy Lopez position, and try the main line of the Morphy Defense. To compare other openings, go back to the openings guide. You can also read about the Italian Game first, then come back and compare the two. When you're ready, go play chess for free.
Play this opening against the computer