Beginners trouble with Ruy Lopez Bishop

I'd regard myself as advanced beginner to chess.  As white I've begun using the Ruy Lopez opening but recently I'm starting to become confused with the 3rd move and in particular pawns on the (a) and (b) file attacking the bishop.

I'm getting in the routine of my bishop on b5 being attacked by a pawn moving to a6, I move my bishop to a4, opponent moves next pawn to b5, then I'm forced to b3.  My thinking is; It is still a positive position because it's a strong diagonal, no lack of tempo because black is only moving his side pawns and disrupting his pawn structure.  See diagram below.  I'm more concerned with move 3 onwards.

I'm only doing this initial bishop move for the pin on the black king and basically because of the high regard the Ruy Lopez seems to have.  Can someone help me out with this and make it clear if what I am doing is correct and if not what should I do instead?  Italian game instead?  Also ignoring the opening as such, would it ever be feasible to put your bishop in this situation in early middle game or is it simply 3 moves of bad chess I'm playing?

Thanks in advance.

Hes right, but I like to save my white Bishop by moving the a2 pawn so my bishop can nestle down there and project that long reach a2-g8!

At first I didn't see it but you're right - 2. ... Nf6 is the Petroff.

As for the OP - I've never done great with the Ruy Lopez, instead I stop the bishop on c4 which I think is the Italian game. I believe it does save tempo! Don't think those advancing pawns on the queens side aren't going to hurt you later. Just go right for the pin, make it obvious and keep developing. I think the true Ruy wastes time. But please note it took me a minute to realize your original post wasn't the true Ruy Lopez so what the hell do I know? 

wrong forum

3. ... a6 is a standard move in the Ruy Lopez. White then plays either 4. Bxc6 (the Exchange Variation) or 4. Ba4 as you do. 4. ... b5 is played not so often, since it's quite a double-edged move - as you mentioned, White's bishop is still in a very good position and Black has weakened his queenside pawn structure (and the a and b pawn moves are losing tempo just as White's bishop moves). The bishop is even on a better position on b3 than in the Italian game on c4 because it's defended by the pawns there.

Chess is a very difficult game because whenever you create good things for your positions, you often have to let your opponent have some good things as well.  And sometimes, it's not clear whether what you've done will end up helping your position or hurting it.

Your thinking is right, black is not developing pieces with tempo on your bishop, they're just pawn moves putting your bishop on a nice diagonal so as often  happens in chess it's not good or bad but a battle of ideas.  What black has gained is some queenside space.  The Ruy is one of the oldest opening in chess and leads to very complex play.  The position (below) is equal so far, who will get the better of it will be seen later after more moves are made.

Thanks for the replies guys and useful post Wafflemaster.  Apologies for my inaccuracy but my main issue was that it always felt negative to me by moving my bishop around so much.  Would it not me more efficient to use the Italian game and simply move the bishop to b3 with two moves rather than 3?  If the Ruy Lopez leads to more complicated play would a simpler opening be better creating opening play for a beginner like me for example?  Any suggestions?

Well, it's complicated to play very well... but it follows general principals so it's one of those good openings for beginners and masters alike.  It really depends on what you're comfortable with too.  If you don't like black pushing your bishop around, then go for the Italian.  Both openings are good.

But in the Italian you can get on that diagonal with 1 move (to c4) and so unless black forces you to move it, you can just leave it there on c4, there's no need to put it back to b3.

Or, right after black plays a6, you can just go ahead and capture the knight.  That's called the Ruy exchange variation.  If you haven't already you could check out this site's opening game explorer http://www.chess.com/explorer/  it doesn't give any reasons behind the moves, but it has opening lines and stats on them.

After Black plays ...a6 and ...b5, kicking the White bishop back to b3, White has a much better position compared to the Guioco because Black can't play his freeing move ...d5 with tempo since the White bishop isn't on c4.  So White is basically a tempo up over similar lines in the Guioco.

A sample line might go:

In general, White wants to use his better center and space advantage to maneuver for a K-side attack, while Black usually goes for Q-side counterplay.  There usually aren't any quick knockout blows in the Ruy, but Black has a much harder time equalizing than in other double king pawn openings.

Hello wilco, we played in the 5X5. That is still ruy lopez (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense) I think its C90. Look it up :-)

*C70

Richard Reti, in his book "Masters of the Chessboard, explains that in 1.e4 e5 openings if White plays d4 too soon Black will eventually be able to equalize by playing ... d5. If Black is forced to waste a tempo by playing ... d6 before White plays d4, he will have wasted a tempo and will find it harder to equalize. So the point of the Ruy Lopez is to force Black to play ... d6.

Another drawback to an early ... a6 and ... b5 is White can easily open a file for the a1 rook by playing a4 and axb5.

Splane - as an owner of NO chess books that makes me want to buy one.... maybe (I still just am not sure it will help stupitos like me). But that's a great explanation of why some one would play the Ruy Lopez. It's so hard to find that type of explanation for a particular opening.

looks like im posting in a really old thread, but idc :P

Im also a beginner and I wonder why, in the Ruy Lopez, does'nt:

3...a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.nxe5

Going up a pawn and doing structual damage to blacks pawn structure?

This has to be a dumb question :D

That doesn't actually win a pawn. Black has a few ways to win the pawn back.

thanks a lot :)

Has Robwilco been here since 2011?