Ruy Lopez Question (e4 pawn capture)

In the Ruy Lopez line beginning:

Why do so many black players decline capturing the pawn on e4 with the f6 knight on move 5? Is it bad to do so? If black does capture, what is a resulting line that favors white?

Thanks.

To answer you question. i believe black wants to develop his/her pieces first.

Capturing 5. Nxe4 loses tempo.

Hope this helps.

5. ... Nxe4 is a reasonable move that leads into the Open Lopez, but the Black should have good knowledge of the complicated tactical lines that follow after 6. d4. The White can also simply regain the pawn with 6. Re1, although that wouldn't give him much advantage.

I play the Ruy Lopez a lot and have often been met with 5... Nxe4. I usually reply with 6. d4, sometimes with 6. Re1.

It is still played by masters, because it was played as late as this very week in the Nanjing Pearl Springs Masters tournament in the game between Anand and Carlsen, so it is certainly played amongst top masters. Carlsen had the white peaces and Anand the black ones and he played 5... Nxe4. Carlsen replied with 6. Re1. You can find the game here: http://www.chess.com/news/bacrot-falters-in-nanjing-7154

 This is not correct. The Carlsen/Anand game went 4 .... Nxe4 which is the Berlin defense and not the Open variation that arises after 3.... a6 4 Ba4  Nf6  5 0-0  Nxe4

Korchnoi and Larsen both were fond of the Open variation against the Ruy Lopez/Spanish

Oh yes, you are right. I looked at it at a glance without really looking.

I wonder how many people have tried it but gave up because it might be too hard to play well with Black in the main lines.

.