Ruy Lopez

4. Classical Open Variation (9.c3 Be7)

In the Open Variation Black accepts the challenge by taking the e4 pawn with 5...Nxe4. White replies with 6.d4 and 8.dxe5, placing the bishop on b3 and undermining the black knight.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Be7 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Bc2 f5 12.Nb3 Qd7

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.Ba4 – The bishop retreats but keeps the pressure on c6: the threat of Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 will come back once White has castled. Black can break the diagonal with ...b5 whenever it wants.
  8. 4...Nf6 – Develops the knight attacking e4. This is the main move: it leads to the Closed Ruy Lopez with ...Be7 or to the Open Variation with ...Nxe4.
  9. 5.O-O – Castles without defending e4: if Black takes it with ...Nxe4, White regains it with Re1 or d4, exploiting the black king still in the centre.
  10. 5...Nxe4 – The Open Variation: Black takes e4 and activates the knight. The pawn will be returned, but Black gets free, active play.
  11. 6.d4 – Opens the centre while the black king is still on e8: White threatens d5 or dxe5 and the e-file becomes dangerous for Black. This is the strongest reply to the Open Variation.
  12. 6...b5 – Moves the a4-bishop away before ...d5 is pushed: that way the c6-knight is no longer pinned and Black can support the e4-knight with the pawn. It also gains space on the queenside.
  13. 7.Bb3 – The bishop goes to the a2-g8 diagonal, where it will attack d5 after ...d5 and eye f7.
  14. 7...d5 – Supports the e4-knight and closes the diagonal of the b3-bishop. Black gives the pawn back: after dxe5 material is level, but its pieces are active.
  15. 8.dxe5 – Regains the pawn. The e5 pawn gains space and takes the d6 and f6 squares away from Black's pieces: it will be White's strong point throughout the variation.
  16. 8...Be6 – Develops the bishop, defending d5, which is attacked by the b3-bishop. It is the most solid move: the e6-bishop also holds d5 against future pushes.
  17. 9.c3 – Prepares the Bc2 retreat for the bishop and controls d4, so a white knight can settle there. White also prepares Nbd2 against the e4-knight.
  18. 9...Be7 – Modest development: the bishop goes to e7 rather than c5. It is solid and prepares castling, but gives up the pressure on f2.
  19. 10.Nbd2 – The knight immediately challenges the e4-knight, which is supported only by the d5 pawn.
  20. 10...O-O – Black castles and puts the king in safety before deciding how to support the e4-knight.
  21. 11.Bc2 – The bishop moves to the b1-h7 diagonal and attacks the e4-knight. Now White threatens Nxe4 dxe4 Bxe4, winning a pawn.
  22. 11...f5 – Black supports the knight with another pawn. It weakens the e6 and e5 squares, but the e4-knight stays stable. White could have captured en passant at once, but not later.
  23. 12.Nb3 – The knight goes to b3, from where it eyes d4: with Nbd4 or Nfd4 White can exchange the c6-knight or the e6-bishop and occupy the square in front of the d5 pawn.
  24. 12...Qd7 – Connects the rooks and defends the e6-bishop and the c6-knight in advance, preparing ...Rad8 and the defence against Nfd4.

How to exploit the position

Typical Open Variation position: Black has a strong knight on e4 supported by d5 and f5, White has the e5 pawn and the d4 square for its pieces.

Master tips

Undermining the knight on e4

In the Open Variation the e4-knight is Black's strongest piece. White attacks it with c3, Nbd2 and Bc2, forcing Black to support it with ...f5 or to exchange it.

Model games