The moves you’ll play
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Bb5f5
- 4.Nc3fxe4
- 5.Nxe4d5
- 6.Nxe5dxe4
- 7.Nxc6Qg5
- 8.Qe2
The line continues — master it move by move in the app.
Your coach, move by move
- 1. e4We open with the king's pawn for the center.
- 2. Nf3We develop and pressure e5.
- 3. Bb5We pin the c6-knight, entering the Ruy Lopez.
- +5 more coached moves waiting in the app
Key ideas behind this line
- White: build a broad center with c3 and d4, then redeploy the Spanish bishop via b3 to c2 where it eyes the black king along the b1-h7 diagonal.
- White: execute the classic Spanish knight maneuver Nb1-d2-f1-g3 to reinforce e4 and funnel pieces toward a kingside attack.
- Black (Closed): generate queenside counterplay with ...Na5 hitting the bishop, ...c5, and pawn expansion, or strike in the center with a timely ...d5.
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More lines in this opening
Closed Ruy Lopez: Zaitsev / Main Line
The classical main line: White builds the big center with c3 and d4, keeping the powerful light-squared bishop on b3 aimed at Black's king and the f7-square.
Closed Ruy Lopez: Chigorin Variation
Against the classical Chigorin setup, White plays d4 to create the central tension and aims to maneuver the knight via Nbd2-f1-g3 toward the kingside.
Closed Ruy Lopez: Breyer Variation
Black reroutes the knight to d7 in the solid Breyer; White grabs the center with d4 and prepares Nbd2-f1-g3 with a long maneuvering battle.
Closed Ruy Lopez: Smyslov / 9...h6 Variation
Black plays the flexible ...h6 and ...Re8 setup; White seizes the center with d4 and continues developing toward a kingside-oriented middlegame.
Exchange Variation
White trades on c6 to inflict doubled pawns and steer toward a favorable endgame where his healthy kingside majority outweighs Black's bishop pair.
Berlin Defense: Main Line (Berlin Wall)
The famous Berlin endgame: White accepts the queen trade and bets on his kingside pawn majority and Black's misplaced king to press in the long ending.
Berlin Defense: Anti-Berlin 4.d3
Avoiding the Berlin endgame, White plays the quiet d3 setup, keeping the tension and preparing a slow buildup with Nbd2-f1-g3 and a later d4.
Marshall Attack: Main Line
Black sacrifices a pawn for a raging attack; White accepts and aims to consolidate the extra pawn with accurate defensive moves like d4, Re1, and g3.
Anti-Marshall: 8.a4
To dodge the Marshall, White plays a4 to pressure Black's queenside pawns before committing to c3, then builds the center with d4.
Open Variation: Main Line
Black grabs the e4-pawn in the Open Ruy; White establishes the e5 pawn and the strong c3/Bb3 setup, aiming for piece pressure against Black's center.
Steinitz Defense Deferred
Against the solid but passive Steinitz Deferred, White builds the ideal center with c3 and d4 and enjoys a comfortable space advantage with easy development.
Modern Steinitz Defense
Black plays the restrained Modern Steinitz; White castles, prepares c3 and d4, and obtains a pleasant space advantage with a flexible classical center.
Cozio Defense
Against the offbeat Cozio with ...Nge7, White preempts ...d5 ideas with c3 and d4, opening the center while his pieces are better coordinated.
Bird's Defense
Against Bird's ...Nd4, White trades knights, castles, and undermines Black's advanced d4-pawn with c3, retaining the bishop pair and a slight edge.
Classical Defense (3...Bc5)
Black develops the bishop actively to c5; White responds with c3 and d4 to challenge the center and gains a comfortable game with the standard h3 and Bb5 pressure.