Ruy Lopez

3. Solid Exchange Variation with 5.Nc3

The move 5.Nc3 directly defends e4 and eliminates any tactical complications for Black, preparing d4 in complete safety.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3 f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Be3 O-O-O 10.O-O-O Ne7

Move by move

  1. 1.e4 – White takes the centre and opens the diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop. In the Ruy Lopez this pawn will often be at the heart of the fight: Black will attack it with ...Nf6 and, in the Open Variation, will even capture it with ...Nxe4.
  2. 1...e5 – Black answers symmetrically: it contests d4 and f4, prevents e4-e5 and frees the f8-bishop. From here White will build the whole Ruy Lopez on pressure against this pawn.
  3. 2.Nf3 – Develops the knight with a direct attack on the e5 pawn, which now has to be defended. The knight also prepares kingside castling and supports a future d2-d4 push.
  4. 2...Nc6 – Defends e5 while developing a piece and controlling d4. This very knight, the only defender of e5, will be the target of White's next move.
  5. 3.Bb5 – The Ruy Lopez: the bishop attacks the c6-knight, the defender of e5. There is no immediate threat yet (Bxc6 dxc6 Nxe5 Qd4 regains the pawn), but the pressure on c6 will last throughout the opening.
  6. 3...a6 – Morphy's move: it asks the bishop to decide right away. After 4.Ba4 Black can break the pin with ...b5 whenever it likes; after 4.Bxc6 it gets the bishop pair.
  7. 4.Bxc6 – The Exchange Variation: White gives up the bishop to ruin Black's structure. After ...dxc6 Black has doubled c-pawns and White a healthy 4 vs 3 majority on the kingside, excellent for the endgame.
  8. 4...dxc6 – Recaptures towards the outside, but it opens the d-file and the diagonal of the c8-bishop: Black develops quickly and compensates for the structure with the bishop pair.
  9. 5.Nc3 – Develops the knight and defends e4 before acting in the centre: White postpones castling and keeps the option of castling queenside after d4 and the queen exchange.
  10. 5...f6 – Defends e5 with a pawn, as in the main line. This way Black does not have to give up the centre, but the g8-knight loses the f6 square and will go to e7.
  11. 6.d4 – Opens the centre with Nc3 already in play: e4 is protected and White is ready to recapture on d4 with the queen.
  12. 6...exd4 – Captures on d4: Black frees the centre, but now the white queen enters d4 offering the exchange.
  13. 7.Qxd4 – The queen recaptures offering the queen exchange. White knows that without queens its better structure counts for more.
  14. 7...Qxd4 – Black accepts the exchange: the white queen on d4 was too strong to ignore and Black does not want to lose tempi.
  15. 8.Nxd4 – The knight recaptures and occupies d4, from where it controls e6, c6 and f5. White can now castle queenside after Be3.
  16. 8...Bd7 – Develops the bishop and prepares queenside castling, so the rook arrives at once on the d-file.
  17. 9.Be3 – Develops the bishop, protecting the d4-knight and clearing the first rank for queenside castling.
  18. 9...O-O-O – The king goes to safety on the queenside and the rook on d8 attacks along the d-file, where the white knight stands.
  19. 10.O-O-O – White castles queenside too: the d1-rook opposes the d8-rook and defends the d4-knight, and the white king approaches the centre for the endgame.
  20. 10...Ne7 – Develops the last minor piece: the knight goes to g6 or to c8-b6, and frees f8 for the bishop, which will aim for d6 or c5.

How to exploit the position

Endgame with both kings castled long: better structure for White, bishop pair for Black. Black will seek ...Ng6, ...Bd6 and ...c5 to chase the d4-knight.

Master tips

Rock-solid

With 5.Nc3 you take away any hope of tactical counterplay for Black. Continue with d4, Qxd4 and castle long or short.

Model games