Ruy Lopez: the complete guide
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Described in 1561 by the Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, it is the oldest opening still played at the very top. Nicknamed 'the Spanish torture' for its slow, lasting pressure, it has been the weapon of Fischer, Karpov and Carlsen.
How it starts, move by move
- 1. e4e4 occupies the center.
- ... e5e5 occupies the center.
- 2. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
- ... Nc6Nc6 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
- 3. Bb5Bb5 develops the bishop.
Both sides plans
White's plan
The b5-bishop pressures the defender of e5. The real plan is slow: castle, play c3 and d4, and keep the central tension as long as possible. The Spanish torture is won on move 30, not move 10.
Black's plan
...a6 and ...b5 push the bishop back with gain of time, then ...Be7 and ...O-O consolidate. Counterplay comes from ...Na5-c4 or a well-timed ...d5 break.
What is actually played
Real shares of the continuations after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5, Lichess games by Elo band.
| Continuation | Elo 1400 | Elo 1600 | Elo 1800 | Elo 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3... a6 | 21 % | 24 % | 31 % | 46 % |
| 3... Nf6 | 19 % | 16 % | 16 % | 17 % |
| 3... Bc5 | 11 % | 12 % | 14 % | 11 % |
| 3... d6 | 25 % | 27 % | 22 % | 10 % |
| 3... f5 | 1 % | 2 % | 3 % | 6 % |
The main variations
- Ruy LopezC601. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
- Morphy DefenseC701. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
- Morphy DefenseC781. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- ClosedC841. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- ClosedC881. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- Berlin DefenseC651. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
- OpenC801. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- OpenC801. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- Berlin DefenseC651. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O
- ClosedC901. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- ClosedC921. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
- OpenC801. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
Frequently asked questions
- What moves start the Ruy Lopez?
- The Ruy Lopez starts with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Every move is explained in the interactive explorer.
- How many named variations does the Ruy Lopez have?
- 235 named variations, from the Lichess ECO database. The main ones are listed on this page; the full tree lives in the branch map.
- What is the most played continuation?
- Around 2000 Elo, the most frequent continuation is 3... a6, played in 46% of games (Lichess data).
- How can I learn the Ruy Lopez for free?
- The explorer, free play, review cards and the essential ★1 course of the Ruy Lopez are free on OpeningMate. The ★2 to ★5 levels and per-variation courses are part of Premium.
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