Games - Ruy Lopez

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	Games - Ruy Lopez

The Ruy Lopez, generally called the Spanish Game outside of English speaking countries, is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation):

:1.e4 e5 :2.Nf3 Nc6 :3.Bb5

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. He made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del Ajedrez 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 and many play it from both the white and black sides.

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 of the Ruy Lopez is the most extensively developed of all the double king pawn openings. At nearly every move there are many reasonable alternatives, and most have been explored deeply. It's convenient to split the possibilities into two groups based on whether or not Black responds with the Morphy Defence (3...a6). The variations with Black 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

Of the variations in this section, the Berlin and Schliemann Defences are the most popular today, followed by the Classical Defence. The Steinitz Defence was important at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

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)

Classical Defence

The Classical Defence or Cordel Defence (ECO C64), 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 when Black may choose to play 4...f5, the Cordel Gambit. This often leads to quite messy positions and a sharp drop in the number of draws in comparison to other reasonable 4th moves for Black. White may instead play 4.0-0.

Cozio Defence

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

Berlin Defence

The Berlin Defence (ECO C65–C67), 3...Nf6, is logical and solid, although it can be hard for Black to generate winning chances. Arthur Bisguier 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. After 4.0-0, Black can play either the solid 4...Nxe4 or the more combative 4...Bc5. After 4...Nxe4 5.d4 (5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 is also reasonable) Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ (8.Qe2?! Nd4! 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 favors Black. After 10.Rd1, Bg4!? 11.Rxd4 Bxe2 gives Black a pleasant endgame.) 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.

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