why do you guys avoid the ruy lopez so much???

the ruy lopez is a great opening at all levels where white pressures the knight on f6 and usually follows up with 0-0,Re1,c3,d4

it follows principles and leads to rich positions where both sides have chances at winning.

but if thats  true, then why most people avoid the ruy lopez, instead going for the dry scotch game or the quiet italian game??

yes maybe thats true but white can avoid many of those variations with a Qe2 (going for pressure in the e file, or d3 setup, delaying d4. which cuts down most of the theory that white has to know

regardless, the other theoretrical lines provide very rich positions. that are fun. but since you are a gotham fan i already know you are as scared of theory as you are with clowns

but also since you are a london player i don't recommend commenting on these things. you offer nothing to the table due to you being lazy and autopiloting the opening to avoid learning chess

@Kielmog

if you learn the plans of the ruy and some theory you are good to go and will be fine

yeah

gotham gatekeeps many openings (including the ruy lopez) claiming that its too hard to learn and should be avoided. which the gotham-fan hivemind has accepted and preaches to others

@Kielmog

you could get more respect but you play the london system and cant provide a reason to why you say what you say

I answer 1.e4 with 1...e5, and get ready for all kinds of 1.e4 gambits---because I want white to come out swinging.I don't think I'll ever play a half-open defense.

The Ruy Lopez is a class act.

I'd think Ding winning a WCC game w London might win it more respect

yes, finally! Someone that actually likes the ruy lopez! Too bad sicilian/all other flank openings and defenses stole its thunder followed by italian/scotch! Ruy lopez doesn't require much positional theory, it's very systematic.

i play the sicilian and all i get are closed sicilian and alapins. people think they are special and claim ¨oh the sicilian player allways get the open so imma throw him off¨ but in reality its the opposite, i havent gotten an open sicilian in a very long time

I play the Spanish. I also play the Italian and the Scotch. OTB, I’m more likely to employ the Spanish. Blitz and rapid online, Italian and Scotch.

Same reason I don't eat mocha ice cream: I don't like it.

this is understandable, some dont like it

but there are people who gatekeep it, (gotham) and say that you are not smart enough and to avoid it at all costs

This. People think it’s a heavy theoretical opening when it isn’t. I’ve played the Ruy at my level with no theory at all. I just know that I’m supposed to play c3 d4 to make a center, and it gets me playable positions. 🤷‍♂️

Ruy has too many variations

Respect on an anonymous chess forum? Are those even goals?

You'd get more respect if you eat mocha ice cream around these parts I'm told