Forever Chess GamesForever Chess Games Logo
CreateGiftsProductsGamesPlayersOpeningsTop 100FAQ

Explore

  • Players
  • Openings
  • Famous Games
  • Top 100 Games
  • World Championships

Create

  • Create Visualisation
  • How It Works
  • Gift Ideas

Eras

  • 1880s – Classical
  • 1960s – Fischer Era
  • 1990s – Kasparov Era
  • 2020s – Modern

Info

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

© 2026 Forever Chess Games. All Rights Reserved

  1. Home
  2. /Openings
  3. /Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (C70)
C70

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense

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

Nakamura,Hi68 gamesGrischuk,A51 gamesFirouzja,Alireza34 gamesKamsky,G25 gamesPraggnanandhaa,R25 gamesCaruana,F22 gamesMamedyarov,S20 gamesShirov,A20 gamesErigaisi,Arjun14 gamesKasimdzhanov,R14 games

Related Openings

C71 - Ruy Lopez: Noah's Ark Trap84C72 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Kecskemet Variation203C73 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense107C74 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense46C75 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense121C76 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation180C77 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit854C78 - Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation1124C79 - Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred208

Best Games

Gukesh,D vs Le,Quang Liem0-1
Saint Louis Blitz 2025 2025Notable
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
12th Norway Chess 2024 2024Notable
Carlsen,M vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
12th Norway Chess 2024 2024Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2024 2024Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Gukesh,D1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2024 2024Notable
Vidit,S vs Praggnanandhaa,R0-1
FIDE Candidates 2024 2024Notable
Le, Quang Liem vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2021 2021Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
20th Amber Rapid 2011Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Ponomariov,R1-0
19th Amber Rapid 2010Notable
Ivanchuk,V vs Ponomariov,R1/2-1/2
19th Amber Blindfold 2010Notable
Dominguez Perez,L vs Ponomariov,R1/2-1/2
19th Amber Blindfold 2010Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Timman, Jan H1-0
Linares 1993Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Simons, Rudi1-0
Wch U10 1992Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Agdestein, Simen1-0
Wch U20 1987Notable
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
World Blitz 2025 2025
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Praggnanandhaa,R1/2-1/2
World Rapid 2025 2025
Anand,V vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
TechM GCL 2025 2025
Leko,P vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
FIDE World Cup 2025 2025
Caruana,F vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
chess.com SpeedChess 2025 2025
Caruana,F vs Praggnanandhaa,R1/2-1/2
chess.com SpeedChess 2025 2025

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players