This is getting to be such a common question that I'm tempted to learn the answer myself. Here's a pretty decent video I just watched about the early moves of the Ruy Lopez:
Chess openings - Ruy Lopez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bs7UtQR58Y
It might be easier if you wrote specific moves you wonder about, how far into the game you mean, and in which variation. Personally, I'd be interested in a nice overview of the main variations of the Ruy Lopez, each of which probably has its own goal.
A more specific question?
What about exchange vs non-exchange?
What are the key ideas behind taking the knight and retreating the bishop?
Taking doubles black's pawns and retreating saves the bishop pair. But are there any deeper ideas?
Might be helpful to look at Starting Out: The Ruy Lopez by John Shaw.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf
In the Ruy Exchange, White basically wants to get to an endgame where he can queen his extra pawn on the Kside. The Kside extra pawn is pretty much his only plus.
I usually try to keep my King centralized, set up a a2-c4 pawn chain to hold up Black's Qside pawn majority, and exchange pieces to an endgame. I especially aim for Black's LSB which could be a major threat against my Qside in an endgame.
Though it has a bad rep, and maybe rightly so, I'm willing to go with Lasker's early Queen exchange line. Checking out Lasker's Ruy Exchange games will show a lot of the main themes.
Of course black needs to keep its bishop pair, the plus for this side in this line. I guess black shoud also avoid (generally speaking) trading queens to difficult the advance of kingside pawns?
Not necessarily. The more pieces that come off, the stronger the Bishop pair can potentially be!
Thanks, that makes sense.
Thank you Nckchrls and Fiveofswords. Good long-term, positional observations.
Thank you Nckchrls and Fiveofswords. Good long-term, positional observations.
Ditto. That's all good information. Thanks, everybody.
I checked out a library book on the Ruy Lopez in the past week. It had one chapter for each of the main variations, with a general explanation of the ideas for each variation. The ideas weren't very concrete, maybe because of the primarily tactical nature of the opening, but at least it was something. Here is the intro for each chapter...
----------
Lane, Gary. 1991. The Ruy Lopez for the Tournament Player. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
----------
(p. 9)
1) Zaitsev Variation
This variation is named
after Karpov's second, Igor
Zaitsev, who has introduced
numerous important ideas.
The Zaitsev variation is now
firmly established at the
top level, having been es-
sayed by Karpov in many
important encounters. The
World Championship games
between Kasparov and Kar-
pov have been the arena of
ultimate critical test and it
is these games that are
highlighted as an introduc-
tion to the complexities
surrounding the main line.
For practical purposes the
opening has not been en-
thusiastically welcomed by
the average player, who has
to cope with the deep posi-
tional plans, large amounts
of theory and, more impor-
tantly, the prospect of
White repeating moves to
secure a draw.
Kasparov - Karpov
New York (2) 1990
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 Bb7
10 d4 Re8 (1)
(p. 21)
2) Keres System
This system is regarded as
a slow, solid and relatively
less explored way of coping
with the Lopez. Generally,
credit for this idea is given
to Paul Keres, but this
might be a misnomer. The
modern approach of secu-
ring e5 by ... Be7 - f6, re-
cently revived by England's
Nigel Short, stems prima-
arily from Chigorin's think-
ing.
The global attention this
variation received after
Karpov used it in the 1990
World Championship match
has lead [sic] to a boom in the
number of games being
played with it throughout
the world. For this reason
Keres' original approach, 10
... Nb6, is also included
here, because it is quite
likely that Black players
will wish to deviate from
the current highly topical
line.
Kasparov - Karpov
New York (6) 1990
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 Nd7
The starting point of the
system, indicating a desire
from Black for a reliable
defensive set-up.
10 d4
Natural and good.
10 ... Bf6
Exerting pressure on the
d4 pawn. A plan designed
to hinder White's develop-
ment.
11 a4 (11)
(p. 33)
3) Chigorin Variation
The Chigorin System in the
Ruy Lopez is a frequent
guest in international com-
petition. It has great stra-
tegic depth and provides
numerous tactical chances.
Many lines are experiencing
a revival with the intro-
duction of important ideas
which radically change
assessments.
In the basic position
Black has to cope with his
advanced pawns becoming
targets and the d5 square
being weak. As compen-
sation, White has a tempo-
rary lack of development
and his bishops are re-
stricted. Many players feel
comfortable playing both
sides of these positions,
which stresses the endless
possibilities available.
Tal - Hjartarson
Reykjavik 1986
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O Be7
6 Re1 b5
7 Bb3 O-O
Feigning an attempt to
enter a Marshall. Also
possible is 7 ... d6 8 c3 O-O
transposing to the text.
8 c3 d6
9 h3 Na5
10 Bc2 c5 (21)
(p. 50)
4) Breyer System
The idea of the Hungarian
master Gyula Breyer is that
Black will regroup his
knight to d7, where it
doesn't obstruct the bishop
on b7 or the c-file. In the
long-term, pressure can be
created against e4 by ...
Bb7 and ... Re8. The knight
is not rooted to d7 though,
it can go to b6 to help ...
d5, or respond to b4 by
aiming for a4/c4.
White will follow the
tradition of starting a king-
side attack while maintain-
ing the queenside tension
in order to divert opposing
forces when necessary.
The system became pop-
ular during the 1950s, when
the Leningrad masters Bo-
risenko and Furman di-
rected significant attention
to the merits of the varia-
tion. Today it is considered
one of the main lines.
Van der Wiel -
Van der Sterren
Dutch Ch 1990
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 Nb8
The characteristic move
of the Breyer System.
10 d4 (35)
(p. 65)
5) Other Closed Systems
In this chapter we deal with
Black's other important
closed systems, 9 ... h6
(Smyslov), 9 ... Be6, and 9
... a5. We also deal with the
unorthodox 9 a4 in this chapter.
Smyslov Variation 9 ... h6
This was introduced by
ex-World Champion Vass-
ily Smyslov, who has con-
tributed so much to the
theory of the Ruy Lopez. It
is quite a solid approach
but has failed to make a big
impression because it is
rather passive.
Keres - Westerinen
USSR 1969
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 h6
Interesting is 9 ... Qd7!?
10 d4
(p. 84)
6) Anti-Marshall Systems
The main point of this
line is to avoid the tricky
tactical lines of the Mar-
shall attack [sic] and the realms
of theory that go with it.
White manages to deter ...
d5 in most cases by prepar-
ing to exchange his queen's
rook. This changes the
whole picture as it is usu-
ally essential for Black's
strategy in the Marshall
that it lies dormant on a1.
Nijboer - Nunn
Wijk aan Zee 1990
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O Be7
6 Re1 b5
7 Bb3 O-O
8 a4 Bb7
9 d3 d6 (62)
The ambitious 9 ... Re8 is
discussed in Kotronias - I
Sokolov. The other paths
are mainly attempts to
bluff White that 8 a4 can
be successfully exploited.
(p. 93)
7) 8 or 9 d4
Van der Wiel - I Sokolov
Haninge 1989
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O Be7
6 Re1 b5
7 Bb3 d6
8 c3
An Anti-Marshall system
is also commonly seen
after 7 ... O-O 8 d4 d6 9 c3,
transposing to the main
game. However 8 d4 is a
refinement of the move
order which invites Black
to enter less well charted
lines. For instance:
a) 8 ... Nxd4 9 Nxd4 exd4
10 e5 Ne8 11 Qxd4 c5?!
(p. 103)
8) Marshall Attack
This fearsome weapon is
named after the American
Frank Marshall, who intro-
duced the gambit against
Capablanca at New York in
1918. Enormous efforts have
since been made to unravel
the ensuing complications.
It seems that White can
emerge with the advantage
but this usually involves
fending off a vicious att-
ack, and knowing at least
20 moves of theory.
The Marshall continues
to attract players who like
sharp lines and plenty of
theory. For practical rea-
sons, White often prefers
something other than the
main line as a way of lim-
iting the amount of know-
ledge required to meet it.
Dolmatov - E Vladimirov
Moscow 1989
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O Be7
6 Re1 b5
7 Bb3 O-O
8 c3 d5
The characteristic move
of the Marshall Attack.
9 exd5 Nxd5
10 Nxe5 Nxe5
11 Rxe5 c6 (76)
(p. 124)
9) Worrall Attack and Delayed
Exchange Variation
Worrall Attack
The idea of defending the
e-pawn with 6 Qe2 has been
known for a long time, but
it is rarely played at the
top level. The consensus
against it is that the best
place for the queen in the
opening should only be
determined after Black's
set-up becomes clear. The
less flexible approach used
by Short is worthy of atten-
tion, though, as White
achieved a perfectly accep-
table game. This adds
weight to the theory that it
is a variation with a long
past and plenty of future.
Short - Hubner
Manila 1990
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O
Of course, it is possible
to play the immediate 5
Qe2, which tends to trans-
pose to the game continua-
tions. There is a more
independent line of action
that can be pursued after 5
... Be7 6 Bxc6!? dxc6 7 Nc3
(p. 137)
10) Archangel Variation
The Archangel variation, in
which Black strives for ac-
tive stations for his two
bishops, leads to sharp, in-
teresting play for both
sides.
It is a mystery why this
lively opening has not fil-
tered down to club level,
while the Marshall Attack
is so popular. Through its
ardent Soviet supporters,
Beliavsky, Malaniuk and
Shirov, there has been a
boom in the number of
decent alternatives. The
big advantage over the
Marshall, which has been
analysed in such depth, is
that here the theoryis still
developing and there is
still scope for innovative
play. The name of the
opening is derived from the
Soviet city Arkhangelsk,
where most of the ideas
were pioneered.
Penrose - Vukcevic
Corr. Olympiad Final 1984
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O b5
6 Bb3 Bb7
(p. 146)
11) Open Variation
The Open Variation re-
ceived enormous attention
as a result of the World
Championship matches be-
tween Karpov and Korchnoi,
where the players greatly
contributed to the evolu-
tion of the opening. Black
is able to swiftly develop
pieces at the cost of having
to make some concessions
with his pawn structure.
This system is now regar-
ded as one of Black's major
weapons witha consider-
able following.
Mokry - Ernst
Gausdal 1989
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 O-O Nxe4
The capture of the e-
pawn signals the start of
the Open Variation.
6 d4
Firmly established as the
best attempt by White to
secure an advantage. Mere-
ly equal is 6 Re1 Nc5 7
Nxe5 Be7 8 Bxc6 dxc6 9 d4
Ne6 10 Be3 O-O.
(p. 167)
12) Centre Attack
The general idea of 5 d4
is to develop rapidly, risk-
ing very little and waiting
for Black to make a mis-
take. Some players still
persist in delaying it a
move by 5 O-O Be7 6 d4 but
this is a waste of effort
because it would then be
necessary to learn varia-
tions like the Open and the
Archangel variations.
The drawback of this
system is that it is very
committal at an early stage
and with precise play Black
should equalize.
Marjanovic - Yilmaz
Pucarero 1987
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
5 d4 (126)
5 ... exd4
Even at this early stage
there is a chance that Black
can go wrong and in tour-
nament conditions this is
often the case:
(p. 176)
13) Anderssen Attack
This is a fairly harmless
continuation, which has
experienced a drop in pop-
ularity. The slow manoeuv-
ring necessary by White
allows Black to organise an
effective defense without
any difficulty. for all its
drawbacks the opening is
sound enough and is liable
to catch out those who are
complacent enough not to
show it sufficient respect.
The fact that Fischer used
it occasionally adds to its
credibility.
Bronstein - Hebden
London 1989
1 e5 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Ba4 Nf6
An endangered species
on the international scene
is the Wing Variation,
which is entered by 4 ... b5
5 Bb3 Na5. Casual play
allows Black to get away
with taking the active bish-
op, so an early strike in the
centre is the best policy
after 6 O-O d6 7 d4 Nxb3
8 axb3 exd4
(p. 181)
14) Steinitz Defense
The Steinitz Defense has
a long and sound tradition.
It has the distinct advan-
tage of allowing one to
deviate from the main lines
at an early stage, thus
avoding a mass of theory,
but can only be recomm-
ended to those who relish a
dour battle in which Black
has to maintain a cramped
position.
Anand - I Sokolov
Wijk aan Zee 1989
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
The Steinitz formation
used to be played exclu-
sively at this point with 3
... d6. The modern player
now accepts that it is
better to nudge the bishop
away to a4, discouraging
certain lines revolving
around a quick d4 without
taking the knight on c6. To
prove this point:
a) 4 d4 Bd7 5 Nc3 Nf6 6
O-O Be7 7 Re1 exd4 8 Nxd4
O-O 9 Bxc6 bxc6 10 Qf4 c5
11 Nf3 Bg4 12 e5 Nh5 13 Be3
and White stands slightly
better, Geller - Welling,
CSKA - Eindhoven 1986.
(p. 185)
15) Exchange Variation
The Exchange Variation of
the Ruy Lopez is character-
ized by White giving up his
bishop in order to burden
Black with doubled pawns
on the c-file. This has the
advantage of momentarily
giving a lead in develop-
ment and the long-term
prospect of a superior end-
game, if the pawn majority
of the kingside can be
sufficiently mobilised.
The disadvantage is that
it has a reputation as a
drawing variation with
many games reaching an
endgame as soon as the
opening is finished. This
reputation has been estab-
lished by players who use
the exchange variation tac-
tically when a draw would
suit their reqrements [sic], and
Black is obliged to take
risks in order to break the
deadlock. I feel that it is a
sound system and when
used with an adventurous
spirit it can be lethal. The
opening has enjoyed a
number of booms in fash-
ion over the years, with
Lasker, Capablanca and
Alekhine amongst its ear-
lier exponents. However, it
was the American former
World Champion Bobby
Fischer who inspired succ-
essive generations to adopt
it after he used it as a sur-
prise weapon in the 1966
Olympiad at Havana.
Fischer - Gligoric
Havana Ol 1966
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6
4 Bxc6 dxc6
The other recapture is so
seldom played that many
commentators do not even
mention it. After 4 ... bxc6
White has a pleasant
choice:
a) 5 Nxe5 Qg5 6 Nf3
Qxg2 7 Rg1 Qh3 8 Nc3 d6 9
Rg3 Qd7 10 Qe2 Bb7 11 d4
O-O-O 12 Be3 g6 13 O-O-O
Bg7 14 Rg5!, threatening
Ra5, Rxa6, is better for
White, Gusev - Klaman
(p. 186)
USSR 1973.
(p. 195)
16) Berlin Defence
The Berlin is a rock-solid
defence that has always
managed to cause frustra-
tion for White. The primary
purpose of its adoption is,
in most cases, as a drawing
weapon. Traditional lines
give White a slight advan-
tage in a dull endgame that
tests patience just as much
as ability, and Black nor-
mally wins ony after acc-
umulating tiny advantages,
or, more usually, counter-
ing a risky breakthrough by
White.
Recent games have shed
light on more imaginative
ways of responding to the
opening and these are thor-
oughly examined below. In
the long-term, the better
ending is always going to
be relied on for a smal,
but lasting, edge. Handling
Black is an exacting task
but a specialist armed with
sufficient theory should be
able to cope.
The Berlin Defence has
always enjoyed the patron-
age of world class players
who are often prepared to
play the position from
either side.
Kindermann - Hickl
Bern 1990
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 Nf6
4 O-O Nxe4
5 d4
Preparing to restore ma-
terial equality immediately
with 5 Re1 should lead to
an equal position:
(p. 203)
17) Classical Defence
The Classical Defence re-
ceives sporadic periods of
attention from devotees of
Ruy Lopez gambits. Various
unusual responses on the
fourth move achieve mixed
success until a clear line
emerges for White, and in-
evitably the variation is
abandoned for a few years
before a new approach is
found. Transposing to the
Berlin Defence is the com-
mon motive behind the
move order but it is not
clear if Black can achieve
this.
Christoffel - Farcy
Corr. 1986
1 e5 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 Bc6
4 c3
The most critical re-
sponse to Black's opening,
which has fluctuated in
popularity. Nowadays the
move order 3 ... Nf6 4 O-O
Bc5 (dealt with in the next
game) is preferred to avoid
dealing with the added
problems that are present-
ed by the text. However,
most players do not realise
that it [sic] makes any differ-
ence, especially as the
standard response is 4 O-O.
4 ... f5 (154)
(p. 215)
18) Bird's Defence
The Bird's Defence went
through a resurgence in
popularity during the 1980s.
Many new ideas were test-
ed, with encouraging re-
sults for Black. This partly
stemmed from attempts by
White to defeat the open-
ing within 20 moves as a
punishment for playing the
odd-looking knight move.
In fact, it is quite a sound
line and is designed to ex-
change a pair of pieces and
then use the loose bishop
on b5 to gain momentum.
The best policy is to seek
a small edge using the
temporary advantage in
development to good use.
Kr Georgiev - Hector
Haifa 1989
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 Nd4!?
4 Ba4
This quiet move is ideal
to avoid the myriad of
complications that can ar-
ise from capturing on d4.
(p. 222)
19) Schliemann Defence
The Schliemann is a
sharp variation that had
long been thought suspect.
However, it has enjoyed a
wave of popularity ever
since Speelman [sic] used it with
devastating effect as a sur-
prise weapon in the World
semi-final match against
Timman in 1989. It is useful
to have it in your repertoire
as the complications can
stretch even the strongest
players. The problem is
that eventually people be-
come aware if someone
plays it constantly and,
with thorough preparation,
White should get the ad-
vantage.
For convenience I have
also included materia on
the Schliemann Deferred in
this section.
P Popovic - Inkiov
Palma de Mallorca
(GMA) 1989
[non-quotes:]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 f5
4. Nc3! fxe4
5. Nxe4 d5
6. Nxe5 dxe4
7. Nxc6 Qg5
8. Qe2 Nf6
9. f4 Qxf4
10. Ne5+ c6
11. d4 Qh4+
12. g3 Qh3
13. Bc4 Be6
14. Qf4!? O-O-O
15. O-O-O Bd6
16. Kb1 Rhe8
17. Rhf1 Bxe5?!
18. Bxe6+ Qxe6
19. dxe5 Rxd1+
20. Rxd1 Ng4
21. Re1! h5
22. h3 Nh6
23. Qxh5 Nf7
24. h4 g5
25. hxg5 Qf5!
26. Qe2 Nxg5
27. Qe3! Ne6
28. Qxe4 Qg4
29. Qe2 Qf5
30. Bc1 Rg8
31. Rf1 Qh3
32. Bf4 Rf8
33. Rd1 Qf5
34. Bc1 Rg8
35. Qe3 Rg4
36. Qxa7 Rxg3
37. Qa8+ Kc7
38. Qa5+ Kc8
39. Qa8+ Kc7
42. Bb4 Rg2
43. Rc1 Re2
44. Bd6 Na6
45. Qb6 Qe4
46. Qb3 b5
47. a3 Kb7
48. Ka2 Kb6
49. c4! Re3
50. Qc2 b4
51. axb4 c5
52. Bxc5+ Nxc5
53. bxc5+ Kxc5
54. Qxe4 Rxe4
55. Ka3 1-0
Sounds like a great reference for the Spanish. I remember the name Gary Lane from awhile back. I believe he might have made GM.
Every chess opening has a mian objective. Some positional advantage or attack that you're trying to achieve. It is the opponent's dismantle your attempt.
So what about the Ruy Lopez. This is my favorite opening to play as white but to be honest I sometimes find myself at a loss for an overall objective. I get caught up in little tactical battles with no real vision for what I am trying to achieve in the long run.
What are white's main ideas in the Ruy Lopez?
What about black?