RUY LOPEZ
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5







THIS OPENING, HALF A MILLENNIUM OLD, represents the classic play of the game of chess. It was first mentioned in the historic Göttingenmanuscript of 1490, but the Spanish priest Ruy Lopez, in his Libro  (del Ajedrez of 1561, was the first to treat the opening systematically Hence the opening bears his name, although in other languages it is usually called "Spanish Game." II. I~ The Ruy Lopez came to the fore in the late nineteenth century, when (chess strategy reached a deeper level than the sharp gambits of the romantic era.

Early attacks tested Black s defenses only tactically; after several accurate moves Black could generally attain equality. The Ruy Lopez, instead of aiming a quick blow at the weak f7 point, puts pressure on the Black center with a once-removed attack on the black e-pawn. Though this pawn is not in immediate danger, Black must patiently defend for a long while, which explains the opening s nickname, "Spanish torture."

Over the last century chess thinkers have searched for good defenses for Black to combat the Ruy Lopez, producing many deeply analyzedvariations. The result is a bitter struggle for the center which commonly agaii spreads to attack against the kings. The long analyses of variations in many lines have turned some players away from this opening, yet those who choose it will reach rich and fascinating positions.

I. Systems without 3 ... a6 (cols. 1—33) are not as common, since 3 ... a6 usually gives Black more options. Nonetheless, many of these systems are routinely played by grandmasters.

A. The CORDEL (or Classical) DEFENSE, 3 . . . Bc5 (cols. 1—6) begins with a logical developing move. Though the oldest defense to the Ruy, it still sees use today. 4 c3 f5 (cols. 1—2) is a very sharp line.

B. The BERLIN DEFENSE, 3... Nf6 (cols. 7—12), has been faithfully played by GM Arthur Bisguier. This is a solid opening, but it tends to leave Black with less scope for maneuvering.

C. The cozio DEFENSE, 3 . . . Nge7 (cols. 13—15), is rarely seen in modern play, and then usually in conjunction with.. . g6.

D. BIRD S DEFENSE, 3 .. . Nd4 (cols. 16—18), is experiencing a brief renaissance. The idea is to capitalize at once on 3 Bb5. It is doubtful, however, that Black can achieve equality against best play.

E. The SCHLIEMANN DEFENSE (also called the Jaenisch Gambit), 3 .. . f5 (cols. 19—23), is frequently employed by players looking for a real slugfest. Black aims to open the f-file for the purpose of attack, in the course of which he frequently sacrifices a pawn or two. The opening is probably not quite sound, but proving this over the board is no easy matter. White can play safe with 4 d3 (col. 23), forgoing the win of material as in other lines. Column 24 is the Schliemann Deferred (3 ... a6 4 Ba4 f5).

F. The OLD STEINITZ DEFENSE, 3 ... d6 (cols. 25—29), gives Black a cramped but solid game. Black defends his center in the most straightforward manner, simply leaving White a little freer. While playable, this defense is considered archaic.

G. 3... g6 (cols. 3 1—33) is currently in vogue, especially the line 4 c3 a6 (col. 32). Black solidifies the kingside and tries to keep the position closed.

     II. Morphy s 3 ... a6 gives Black more elbow room. If White plays 4 Ba4 (as usual), then Black can always break the pin with . . . b5.

       A. The EXCHANGE VARIATION, 4 Bxc6 (cols. 34—42), has the strategic idea of obtaining a kingside pawn majority after playing d4 and exchanging for Black s e-pawn. White would have an endgame edge because Black s queenside pawn majority would be difficult to mobilize. Fischer was very successful with this variation in the 1960 s. However, Black s two bishops and easy development give him play, and the variation is no longer considered dangerous.

 The following CLOSED SYSTEMS constitute the main lines of defense against the Ruy Lopez.

B. The FIANCHETTO VARIATION, 9 h3  Bb7 10 d4 Re8 (cols. 43—48), is currently much in use, being the favorite defense of ex-World Champion Karpov. Black develops all his pieces before moving more pawns. This variation has similarities with the Breyer and Smyslov variations, into which it can transpose.

C. In the BREYER VARIATION, 9 h3 Nb8 (cols. 49—54), Black redevelops the queen s knight at d7, centralizing all his pieces and maintaining control of the center. This allows White time to choose his plan of play on the kingside, queenside or both. Column 49 is probably White s best line.

D. The SMYSLOV VARIATION, 9 h3 h6 (cols. 55—60), is slightly out of fashion now, but for no distinct reason.

E. The CHIGORIN VARIATION, 9 h3 Na5 10 Bc2 c5 (cols. 61—78), is still the III. The most common system. Black gains a tempo attacking the white mai( bishop and puts pressure on d4. He has play on the c-file in the take lines following . . . cxd4 (cols. 61—66), but he opens the position turii
 for White, too. In Keres s line (cols. 74—76) the strange-looking 11 Black... Nd7 is holding up well. Probably still best is Fischer s 12 dxc5 ~(col. 76).

    Playing 9 d4 without the preparatory h3 is seen in cols. 85-88. Black holds his own in these lines.
less common moves are covered in cols. 91—96. Black has little to fear, except that 8 a4 (cols. 92—93) requires good defense.

     The MARSHALL (COUNTER) ATTACK (cols. 97—102) is a remarkable Be7 pawn sacrifice (8 ... d5!) introduced by Frank Marshall against Capablanca in New York 1918. New ideas against it continue to be introduced, but Black seems to remain comfortable. Black s compensation for the pawn is mostly positional—based on creating active weaknesses in the White kingside and slowing White s develop, hence the gambit is hard to refute.

     Unusual sixth moves including the Worrall Attack (6 Qe2),  the Center Variation (6 d4) and the Exchange Variation Doubly seen in Deferred (6 Bxc6) are seen in cols. 103—114. Theoretically Black is  secure in these variations, but they are at least worth some surprise value.

III. The OPEN DEFENSE, 3 ... a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0—0 Nxe4 (cols. 115—138), is a major branch of the Ruy Lopez.  It is logical for Black to take the unprotected pawn, with the idea that while White is recapturing it Black gets a stake in the center. The chief disadvantage is that Black s position becomes a trifle loose. Korchnoi has been a champion of the Open Defense.
White s main response is 6 d4 b5 7 Bb3 dS 8 dxe5 Be6 9 c3 (cols. 115—126). Black then has two main replies: (1) 9 . . . Bc5 (cols. 115— 120) offers Black tactical mobility and pressure on f2, although it removes the bishop from the defense of the kingside. Column 118 (11 . . Nxf 2), the Dilworth Attack, is a promising line for Black. (2) 9... Be7 (cols. 121—126) is safe but perhaps too passive, as White obtains some advantage with 10 Nbd2 (cols. 121—122).

   The Howell Attack, 9 Qe2 (cols. 127—130), is an aggressive alternative. White seeks to cause trouble on the d-flle with 10 Rdl. Play becomes tactical and Black must be careful. 9 Nbd2 (cols. 131—132) is the current fashion. White immediately attacks Black s strong knight on e4. White seems to maintain a small advantage. Less common play for both sides is seen in cols. 133—138. Generally these moves are inferior to the main lines. In cal. 137 Black tries to keep the pawn he took on move 5 but slips into an inferior endgame. Cal. 138 is innocuous

    The Counterthrust Variation with an earlier 5 . ..b5 is covered in cols. 139—144 and has its even quicker parallel in the Accelerated Counterthrust Variation (see cols. 154—156). Apparently within the normal course, yet unusual, are the variations starting with 3 . . . a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 covered in cols 145—153.

    The compact complex of THE MODERN STEINITZ DEFENSE, 3.. . a6 4 Ba4 d6 is shown in cols. 15 7—174. (See diagram.) The addition of the moves 3 ... a6 4 Ba4 makes the Old Steinitz Defense much more interesting (see cols. 25—29). Some of the characteristics in these defenses are the same, but the ability to break the pin on the knight with ... b5 allows more dynamic possibilities.
The replies 5 0—0, 5 Bxc6t, 5 c4, and 5 d4 are given in cols. 157—162. The first of these two are no worse than the main line, 5 c3, but are not played as much.

    The Siesta Variation, 5 c3 f5 (cols. 163—168), produces wild play. White s best response is seen in col. 166.  In the variations arising from 5 c3 Hd7 6 d4 (cols. 169—174), Black follows a strong-point strategy, maintaining firm control of e5. The positions take on a closed nature similar to those in the King s Indian Defense. Some may be arrived at from the move 3 ... g6.