Which defense against the Ruy Lopez should I play? - Chess Forums

pdve

Jul 5, 2017

0

#1

I've changed my reply to e4 to ..e5. Now I'm looking for a good way to respond to the Ruy Lopez.

Suggestions and thoughts are needed.

Zaphys

Jul 5, 2017

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#2

Schliemann Gambit.

pdve

Jul 5, 2017

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#3

Zaphys wrote:

Schliemann Gambit.

Haha! No way, dude. I don't play offbeat lines. I meant Berlin,Chigorin, Zaitsev or Breyer. I have a book on the Zaitsev on kindle but the starting position is like 20 moves deep in.

Zaphys

Jul 5, 2017

0

#4

pdve wrote:

Zaphys wrote:

Schliemann Gambit.

Haha! No way, dude. I don't play offbeat lines. I meant Berlin,Chigorin, Zaitsev or Breyer. I have a book on the Zaitsev on kindle but the starting position is like 20 moves deep in.

Suit yourself, champ! Out of those four I'd go with the Breyer, it's very strategic and you can even play for a win as Black. With the Chigorin you risk getting strangled after playing an inaccurate move since your Knight has been put offside for a bit and the Zaitsev, well, I can't really say much about that since I once looked at it, didn't like it and moved on.

The book I use for the Breyer is the fairly recent Playing 1.e4 e5 book by Ntirlis. He explains the strategical themes throughly rather than just giving variations.

SmithyQ

Jul 5, 2017

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#5

If you are new to 1…e5 in general and the Ruy Lopez in particular, a good starting point is the less-heavy main lines. The Classical variation (3…Bc5) has been used for years by aspiring professional players as a way to ‘cut your teeth’ on the Ruy, to learn some ideas and motifs without needing to worry about the huge weight of theory. It also avoids the Exchange variation, the Center attack and any other White sidelines. As you gain experience and comfort in this variation, you will have an easier time transitioning to the mainline Closed, or so the theory goes.

The Steinitz defence, 3…d6, is also interesting: sound, avoids sidelines, a little cramped but with potential for counterplay. If you play it a few times you’ll almost certainly have more experience in these positions than any White player you face.

Just a friendly word of warning: well less than half of my games that started 1.e4 e5 have gone to the full Ruy. Lots of Italian, several King’s Gambits, a good amount of Scotch and the random openings as well. Don’t get obsessed with this, but playing 1…e5 requires at least a general idea on how to handle all of these systems, and trying to learn it in any depth will take the same time as learning a mainline Sicilian.

MayCaesar

Jul 5, 2017

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#6

Marshall attack is a good way to spice things up. It is perfectly playable on the highest level to this day. Of course, that is considering white sticks to the main line for 8 moves in a row.

till64

Mar 16, 2019

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#7

Reading the Classical Defence 3...Bc5 you should be prepared for 4. Nex5 Nxe5 5. d4. - the fork trick!

blueemu

Mar 16, 2019

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#8

There's nothing wrong with the more conservative lines like the Steinitz Deferred.

advenedizo

Mar 20, 2019

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#9

Open ruy maybe? You cut some deviations out. Problem is with 5. d3, will have to look for something against that

JosiahLennox

Mar 20, 2019

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#10

advenedizo wrote:

Open ruy maybe? You cut some deviations out. Problem is with 5. d3, will have to look for something against that

Not a problem with the Open, specifically, though. Even with the Berlin, you have to prep against an early d3 deviation. Just comes with the Ruy territory. Unless you want to play Bird's or the Smyslov fianchetto or something.

my137thaccount

Mar 20, 2019

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#11

What about the Aronian Variation, which is currently quite popular with 2700 players? 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6

BlackKaweah

Mar 20, 2019

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#12

The Steinitz Defense has been played by World Champions. I've had good luck with it over the years.

IM poucin

Mar 20, 2019

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#13

If u like to play Italian as black, u can try Shirov pet line :

It is almost like italian, but almost...

White can play Nxe5-d4 trick, but not really an issue.

Emms calls it as the new Arkangelsk (which is b5-Bb7-Bc5), because black could play Bg4 later, "improving" on pure Arkangelsk.

kindaspongey

Mar 21, 2019

0

#14

Possibly helpful:
Starting Out: Ruy Lopez by John Shaw (2003)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf

First Steps: 1 e4 e5

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf

The Schliemann Defence: Move by Move

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7797.pdf

Colin20G

Mar 21, 2019

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#15

The berlin fishing pole

Klepatus

Apr 18, 2020

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#16

I recommend focus almost entirely on the Open games your first year playing 1..e5. Against Ruy Lopez , play Steinitz defence. Its very solid and does not require much theory.

Use Roman Dzindzishasvillis videos on the Steinitz ,which you can find here on chess.com (videos). After a year you can start learning another Ruy Lopez, Zaitsev or Breyer. Keres variation is also a an interesting variation or Mihail Marins recommendation in his spanish repertoire - Rubinstein variation of the Chigorin. His book gives a good understanding of the positions and maneuvers. With this you will always have the Steinitz defence you can play any time . Its a hard nut to crack for white.

SwimmerBill

Apr 19, 2020

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#17

blueemu wrote:

There's nothing wrong with the more conservative lines like the Steinitz Deferred.

If this is an election, I'd vote that you play this as well. It's solid and seldom seen these days. It was also [one of] Bronstein's main defenses so there will be plenty of chances to complicated or not.

jamesstack

Apr 19, 2020

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#18

SmithyQ wrote:

Just a friendly word of warning: well less than half of my games that started 1.e4 e5 have gone to the full Ruy. Lots of Italian, several King’s Gambits, a good amount of Scotch and the random openings as well. Don’t get obsessed with this, but playing 1…e5 requires at least a general idea on how to handle all of these systems, and trying to learn it in any depth will take the same time as learning a mainline Sicilian.

This has a lot to do with my playing the french against e4. There is a lot of theory with some lines of the french but nothing like what you need to know against 1. e4 e5 overall. In addition to what was already mentioned there are some gambits.....Evans gambit, goring gambit, danish gambit for instance.

SeniorPatzer

Apr 19, 2020

0

#19

3... Nd4 is weird.