The Ruy Lopez - Unnecessarily Lost Tempo?

I am pretty partial to the Ruy Lopez opening (playing as white). It's very solid and safe and lets me castle kingside very quickly if I please. 

The one thing I've had mixed feelings about though, is bringing the bishop to b5 to threaten the knight on c6. I can't seem to understand the point though, unless you want to exchange. And at that point in the game, your center is solid enough that the knight isn't a huge nuisance and it's way too early to throw away a light square bishop not knowing how valuable it'll be. 

It neccesitates black to play a6 but I can't help but think, so what? Most of the time rooks aren't brought out on that file anyway and when they are it's after a pawn or minor piece exchange, so having to play a6 isn't exactly inhibiting black.

Even worse if you play the bishop to a4 and are met with b5. Seems like a lot of wasted development for white if you ask me.

The only downside to white keeping the bishop closer to home is that it gets a little cramped, but it does discourage early checks with how easily it can block attacks on the king or queen.

So, to threaten the knight or to leave it alone? 

Black doesn't have to play 3...a6 (although I do, usually.)

However, the Ruy Lopez uses threats to Black's center early to branch out into other threats, since it's generally a positional opening and usually requires great skill on Black's part against steady pressure to avoid fatal weakening [it's called the "Spanish Torture" for a reason.]

You would be surprised how often the Bb5, ending up on B1 of all places, has played a big role in a White win in many games. Its journey might be Bf1-b5 (center threats) - a5 (maintaining threats) - b3 (threats against f7 or center) - c2 (threats against h7 or to support k-side attacks) - b1 (necessary retreat to avoid elimination or open a square/line for another piece) and finally being the key to mate from b1 or even from its possible final square a2.

Whew, that "Spanish Bishop" gets around! How many other openings have a piece move 5-7 times (Bf1-b5-a4-b3-c2-c1) in the normal scheme of the first 30 moves in some variations, yet be good?

Some players of the black pieces have an absolute fetish about eliminating this bishop, because of its reputation. They play ...a6, ...b5, ...Na5, and ...Nxb3 ASAP, not considering that a2xb3 opens the a-file for the Ra1 (usually a very, very tardy contributer in the Ruy Lopez for White, if at all before the endgame.) However, this gives White a ready-made plan to torture his opponent just the same, if not worse.

Play through a few hundred Ruy Lopez games by good players of the white pieces across time -- instead of looking at opening variations -- and you will see why 3.Bb5 is a good move.

I think that the idea is that Black's pawn advance to b5 facilitates - at ome point - a queenside initiative for White with a4 (like in the Marshall Attack). Also, with the bishop on b3 if 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.d4 forking the knight and bishop, something not available in the Italian Game.

I should say that this is the explanation given by the writers of Chess Opening Essentials Volume 1 as to the merits of 3.Bb5 vs. 3.Bc4. I found their explanation quite helpful in understanding.

It seems like in the Ruy Lopez you're able to develop nicely with White while Black struggles to get in ...d5, whereas in the 3.Bc4 lines Black achieves this break.

Then again, what in the hell do I know? Someone should come along and say "pretty little" heh.

The thing about the Ruy Lopez is that it is an incredibly deeply researched opening, so the strategic reasons for the moves are probably not entirely clear for many amateurs.  On the face of it developing the bishop to c4 seems more logical (The Italian Game) however theory shows that white has a better chance of retaining an advantage with Bb5.  There are a number of reasons for this.  Firstly the move Bb5 puts additional pressure on the centre by threatening to take the knight.  This requires black to do something to relieve this pressure.  The a6-b5 pawn pushes are most common.  Remember white is not really losing tempi here since black has to play these pawn moves to kick the bishop back weakening his queenside in the process.  The Spanish bishop often ends up being more fliexible too, having the option of dropping back into the hole on c2 once white has played c3, or remaining on b3 in some cases.

I guess your problem has been resolved. Great OP!

Ruy Lopez is great. but the idea. e4 e5 nf3. nc6. Bb5. a6. Ba4. b5. Bb3 Bc5. 6 Th move N × e5. can be met by. B× f2.

The Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5) is White's strongest line.  The reason for 3...a6 and a subsequent 6...b5 is to protect e5.

After 3.Bb5 a6, White does have the option to Exchange on c6 (this is what I do), but it does not win a pawn.  Black should take with the d-pawn so that 4.Nxe5? can be answered with 4...Qd4, getting the pawn back by forking the Knight and Pawn, and achieving a slightly better position.

Therefore, after 3...a6, if White doesn't exchange, he can play 4.Ba4.  After 4...Nf6, White still can't win the pawn for the same reason, so he plays 5.O-O and after 5...Be7, White STILL can't win the pawn, so he plays 6.Re1.  Now the Rook protects the pawn, making 6...b5 necessary at this point so that the Knight remains intact to guard the pawn on e5.  After the Bishop is driven away to b3 via 7.Bb3, Black plays 7...d6 to further protect the pawn.  After 8.c3 (building an escape for the Bishop in the event of ...Na5, Black plays 8...O-O.  Now you might say to yourself, "I'm ready to play d4", but really you are not because after 9.d4, 9...Bg4!, pinning the Knight that guards d4, equalizes for Black.  Therefore, White takes time to play 9.h3 first, then Black has a number of options, like 9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5, 9...Na5 10.Bc2 d5 (a gambit line), 9...Nb8, 9...Bb7, 9...h6, etc.

White has not wasted time with Bf1-b5-a4-b3-c2.  He has enticed Black to extend his Queenside pawns early which can be later deemed weak and they can be attacked with a timely a4.  Unlike in the Sicilian Najdorf, which also often involves ...a6 and ...b5, White never castles Queenside here, he castles Kingside on the 5th move, so the advancement of the a-pawn is not weakening to the King like it is in most lines of the Najdorf.  White should be happy that Black made those moves.  Here they were made out of necessity to protect e5.  In the Najdorf, they are for queenside expansion and Black usually attacks there.

The Ruy Lopez is one of those openings that unlike, say, the Classical King's Indian Mar Del Plata, White must be ready to attack on both sides of the board.  Some successful attacks come from plopping a Knight on f5, often sacrificing it to rip open the King, and going for the Black King.  Others involve a slower queenside attack, hitting on Black's weakness, winning a pawn, and grinding out the endgame.  Either way, it's White's best hope at any advantage after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6.

Bb5 is played just to make the defense of blacks e5 pawn less stable. You arent quite threatening to win the pawn just yet but its close and black has to worry about it...limits his options. Obviously trading bishop for knight is great if you then win a pawn. Black simply cant allow it and is forced to play moves which can be considered concessions. The ruy lopez just like every opening isnt ensuring white any advantage if black responds well but its logical and black does have to play well to avoid problems. I think the ruy is overestimated by most people its a fine opening but not necessarily better than various other options