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.
Top Players in this Opening
Related Openings
C60 - Ruy Lopez341C62 - Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense96C63 - Ruy Lopez: Schliemann Defense258C64 - Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation136C65 - Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense1951C66 - Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Tarrasch Trap154C67 - Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall2019C68 - Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation284C69 - Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alapin Gambit289
Best Games
Hou Yifan vs Ruan Lufei1-0
WCh Women Playoff 2010Notable
Leko,P vs Morozevich,A1-0
Amber Blindfold 2004Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1-0
Tilburg 1990Notable
Short, Nigel D vs Ivanchuk, Vassily0-1
Linares 1989Notable
Timman, Jan H vs Beliavsky, Alexander G1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1986Notable
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
Sutovsky,E vs Rapport,R1/2-1/2
ACP Masters GpB 2015 2015
Smirin,I vs Rapport,R0-1
ACP Masters GpB 2015 2015
Caruana,F vs Fish,G1-0
31st ECC Open 2015 2015