Ruy Lopez: Closed: main line, ideas and how to practise it

1.e4 e5 for White. A main line to learn move by move, with the idea behind each key move.

The main line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3

You play White. In the analyzer's drill the other side's moves are played for you and Stockfish checks each of yours.

Practise it with free drillsAnalyze one of your own games

The ideas behind the moves

• 3. Bb5: Pressure on the knight that defends e5.
• 4. Ba4: Keep the pin going; Bxc6 is always an option later.
• 5. O-O: Castling first: ...Nxe4 would run into Re1 and the pin on the e-file.
• 6. Re1: Now e4 is protected, and Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 is a real threat.
• 8. c3: Makes room for the bishop on c2 and prepares d4.
• 9. h3: Stops ...Bg4 pinning the knight before White plays d4.

Legends who played it

• Magnus Carlsen: 394 games in the Ruy Lopez, 62% score
• Mikhail Tal: 271 games in the Ruy Lopez, 64% score
• Emanuel Lasker: 229 games in the Ruy Lopez, 68% score
• Anatoly Karpov: 226 games in the Ruy Lopez, 63% score
• Alexander Alekhine: 201 games in the Ruy Lopez, 75% score
• Bobby Fischer: 115 games in the Ruy Lopez, 76% score
• Wilhelm Steinitz: 112 games in the Ruy Lopez, 54% score
• Garry Kasparov: 83 games in the Ruy Lopez, 64% score

More openings to learn

• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
  1.e4 e5 for White
• Scotch Game
  1.e4 e5 for White
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox
  1.d4 for White
• London System
  1.d4 for White
• Sicilian Najdorf: English Attack
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• Caro-Kann: Classical
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• French Defence: Advance
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• Scandinavian Defence
  Against 1.e4 as Black
• King's Indian: Classical
  Against 1.d4 as Black
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower
  Against 1.d4 as Black