C61

Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation

Key moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest and most classic chess openings. White develops the bishop to b5, putting indirect pressure on the e5 pawn through the knight on c6. It leads to rich strategic positions with deep plans for both sides.

History & Notable Players

Named after the 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura. It has been a cornerstone of chess opening theory for over 500 years and remains one of the most popular openings at all levels.

Best Games

Hou Yifan vs Ruan Lufei1-0
WCh Women Playoff • 2010★ Notable
Leko,P vs Morozevich,A1-0
Amber Blindfold • 2004★ Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1-0
Tilburg • 1990★ Notable
Short, Nigel D vs Ivanchuk, Vassily0-1
Linares • 1989★ Notable
Timman, Jan H vs Beliavsky, Alexander G1/2-1/2
Tilburg • 1986★ Notable
Anand,V vs Kovalev,Vl1/2-1/2
82nd Tata Steel GpA • 2020
Saric,Iv vs Carlsen,M1-0
41st Olympiad Open 2014 • 2014
Megaranto,S vs Short,N1/2-1/2
37th Olympiad • 2006
Aldama,D vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
Olympiad • 2002
Leko,P vs Morozevich,A1-0
RUS vs. ROW • 2002
Kasparov,G vs Khalifman,A1-0
FIDE GP • 2002
Kasparov,G vs Khalifman,A1/2-1/2
FIDE GP • 2002
Anand, Viswanathan vs Beliavsky, Alexander G1-0
Brussels SWIFT rapid • 1992
Ehlvest, Jaan vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Reggio Emilia8889 • 1988
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Spassky, Boris V1-0
Phillips&Drew • 1982
Smyslov, Vassily vs Bronstein, David I1/2-1/2
URS-ch13 • 1944
Kramnik,V vs Kovalev,Vl1/2-1/2
Titled Tue 10th Dec Early • 2024
Smirin,I vs Rapport,R0-1
ACP Masters GpB 2015 • 2015
Sutovsky,E vs Rapport,R1/2-1/2
ACP Masters GpB 2015 • 2015
Caruana,F vs Fish,G1-0
31st ECC Open 2015 • 2015

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