Don Chess

Learn the Ruy Lopez

Named after a 16th-century Spanish priest and still the world champions’ first choice. Your bishop pressures the knight that guards e5.

You play with White. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3

C92 · Ruy Lopez: Closed

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  3. 2.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  4. 2…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  5. 3.Bb5 Develops the bishop to b5 – pieces out first, then attack.
  6. 3…a6 Prevention: takes important squares away from the opponent's pieces.
  7. 4.Ba4 The bishop was attacked and goes to safety on a4.
  8. 4…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
  10. 5…Be7 Develops the bishop to e7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  11. 6.Re1 The rook goes to e1 – to the file where it will soon be needed.
  12. 6…b5 Opens the way for the bishop on c8.
  13. 7.Bb3 The bishop was attacked and goes to safety on b3.
  14. 7…d6 Supports the pawn on e5 – the centre stands firm.
  15. 8.c3 Prepares the pawn move to d4.
  16. 8…O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
  17. 9.h3 Prevention: takes important squares away from the opponent's pieces.

Idea and plans

The idea

With 3.Bb5 White attacks the knight defending e5 and keeps long-term pressure on Black’s centre.

Plan for White

Castle, c3 and d4 for a strong centre, later the knight route Nbd2–f1–g3 and pressure on the kingside.

Plan for Black

Chase the bishop with …a6 and …b5, hold e5 and look for queenside counterplay (…c5).

Tip

The early 4.Bxc6 and Nxe5 usually does not win a pawn because of …Qd4 or …Qg5.

The 11 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

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More openings