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CHAPTER 1. e4 "The Ruy Lopez"
The Spanish Opening- Explained
GENERAL INFO
The Spanish or the Ruy Lopez is named after the Spanish priest Ruy Lόpez de Segura in the 16th-century. It is one of the most popular openings, with many variations. This opening is seen from beginner level (800- 1200 elo) to master lever (2100- 2800 elo).
INTRODUCTION
In this Blog Post we are going to analyze three of many variations.
- Morphy's Defense (3. Bb5 a6)
- The Berlin Defense (3. Bb5 Nf6)
- The Classical Variation (3. Bb5 Bc5)
But let's begin by introducing the moves that we call "The Spanish", and we have 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 ...
1. 3. ...a6 Morphy's Defense
The Morph's Def. is by far the most common move for black in both Db 26% (database) and MDb 72% (masters database) with the move 4. Ba4 to be still the most playable continuation in this position. There are some plans for white, the moves c3 (so the Bishop will go to c2 once he is attacked) followed by d4 or d3 (to attack or defend the center). The popular continuation is: 3... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3.
EXAMPLE GAME (PanoSot2104 vs dpatt2845)
2. 3. ...Nf6 The Berlin Defense
The Berlin Def. is a common opening often played at grandmaster level but it has proven to be an opening with many draws (64%). In the Db it's the third move with 20% and the most common folow up is 4. O-O Nxe4 and now you have to know the theory (5. Re1/ d3/ d4...). In the MDb things are a little bit different. The move 4. O-O Nxe4 is still the most common but here we see the the most popular move is 5. d4 (72%).
EXAMPLE GAME (PanoSot2104 vs praporac) with 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1... (not the best game)
EXAMPLE GAME (PanoSot2104 vs BOT maia1) with 4. d3... (this one is good)
3. 3. ...Bc5 The Classical Variation
The Classical Variation of the Ruy Lopez not a good option for black and we can definitely agree on that with just a quick look in the Db. The move 4. ...Bc5 is fourth (12%) and the best and most common moves are 5. O-O/ c3/ d3/ Nxe5*
*(4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4 c6 6.Be2 Bb4+ 7.c3 Bd6 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.O-O...) THEORY
In the MDb the most common continuation is 5. O-O for white but black most of the times plays 5. ...Nd4 with extended theory...
EXAMPLE GAME (PanoSot2104 vs denic44)
CONCLUSION
Thanks everyone for your time and hopefully your attention, see you all in future Blog Posts!
Try the Spanish out and take a look at the variations!
As always my friends keep calm and play chess!!
@PanoSot2104, Greece
