The Ruy Lopez: how to play it, and the trap to know

The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening, starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. White’s bishop hits the knight on c6, the piece that defends the pawn on e5. It is not a direct threat yet, but it puts long-term pressure on Black’s center. It has been played for more than 400 years and it is still a favorite of world champions, from Capablanca and Fischer to Carlsen.

Is the Ruy Lopez good?

Yes, it is one of the best openings for White. Stockfish rates 3.Bb5 as White’s best third move, ahead of the Italian (3.Bc4) and the Scotch (3.d4). The edge is small, as in every serious opening, but it lasts: White keeps a bit more space and easy plans for a long time. It suits players who like to build up slowly. The one thing to know early: 3.Bb5 does not win the e5 pawn yet. If White takes on c6 and then on e5, Black gets the pawn back with a queen move.

1. The Morphy Defense: 3...a6, the closed main line

By far the most popular answer is 3...a6, asking the bishop what it wants. White usually keeps the bishop on the same diagonal with 4.Ba4. Then both sides develop: Nf6, castling, Be7 for Black, Re1 to guard e4 for White. When Black plays b5, the bishop drops back to b3, where it aims at f7. After d6, c3 and castling, White plays h3 to stop Bg4 and gets ready for d4. This is the Closed Ruy Lopez: a slow, rich game where Stockfish keeps White’s small edge.

2. The Berlin Defense: 3...Nf6

Black ignores the bishop and attacks e4 at once. After 4.O-O Black can take the pawn with 4...Nxe4, and White gets it back with 5.d4. The famous main line trades everything: 5...Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8. This is the Berlin endgame, also called the Berlin Wall. The queens are gone and Black’s king is on d8, but Black has the two bishops and a very solid position. Kramnik used it to beat Kasparov for the world title in 2000. Stockfish calls it close to equal.

3. The Exchange Variation: 3...a6 4.Bxc6

Here White simply gives the bishop for the knight. After 4...dxc6 Black’s pawns are doubled, but Black gets the two bishops and open lines. The trap for White: 5.Nxe5? looks like it wins a pawn, but 5...Qd4 hits the knight and e4 at the same time, and Black gets the pawn back with a slightly better game. The right move is 5.O-O, which really does threaten to win e5. Black answers with Bg4, Qf6, Qd6 or f6, and Stockfish calls the game equal. White hopes for an endgame where the extra healthy pawn on the kingside counts.

A famous trap: Noah’s Ark

This one catches White players. After 3...a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4 b5 6.Bb3 Nxd4 7.Nxd4 exd4, the pawn on d4 looks free. But after 8.Qxd4?? Black plays 8...c5! The queen is chased around: 9.Qd5 Be6 10.Qc6+ Bd7 11.Qd5, and now 11...c4 traps the bishop on b3: the pawns on a6, b5 and c4 form the ark. White can get a pawn or two for it at most, and Stockfish gives Black a winning advantage (about -4.6). The safe way is 8.a4, attacking b5, and Stockfish calls the game equal.

Plans to remember

• White: keep the pressure on e5, castle quickly, put a rook on e1, then prepare d4 with c3 (and h3 to stop Bg4).
• Black: kick the bishop with a6 and b5 at the right moment, keep e5 solid with d6, and look for counterplay on the queenside.
• Both sides: count the pawns on the queenside before the bishop retreats to b3. If a6, b5 and c4 can close the door, the bishop is in danger.

Frequently asked questions

More chess openings

• Caro-Kann Defense (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5)
• French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5)
• Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4)
• King’s Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6)
• London System (1.d4 d5 2.Bf4)
• Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4)
• Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3)
• Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4)
• Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5)
• Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6)
• Vienna Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3)