C94

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer 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.

Best Games

Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Southam, Todd1-0
Wch U20 • 1988★ Notable
Geller, Efim P vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman1/2-1/2
Petropolis Interzonal • 1973★ Notable
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Solomon,K1-0
40th Olympiad Open • 2012
Short,N vs Mamedyarov,S1-0
Gibraltar Open • 2012
Tal, Mihail vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
Niksic • 1983
Tal, Mihail vs Petrosian, Tigran V1/2-1/2
Moscow • 1975
Karpov, Anatoly vs Spassky, Boris V1-0
Moscow-3teams • 1973
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Portisch, Lajos1/2-1/2
EU-chT • 1965
Tal, Mihail vs Spassky, Boris V0-1
Candidats final • 1965
Medina Garcia, Antonio Angel vs Spassky, Boris V0-1
Gothenburg Interzonal • 1955
Short,N vs Santos Latasa,J1-0
TCh-AUT Blitz 2025 • 2025
Dominguez Perez,L vs Aliyev,Ravan1-0
Titled Tue 14th May Early • 2024
Naroditsky,D vs Kamsky,G1-0
Titled Tue 14th Mar Late • 2023
Anton Guijarro,D vs Mamedyarov,S1-0
21st European Teams • 2017
Short,N vs Amin,B1/2-1/2
24th Abu Dhabi Masters • 2017
Ivanchuk,V vs Tomashevsky,E1/2-1/2
IMSA Blitz 2016 • 2016
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Tarjan,J1-0
PokerStars IoM Masters 2014 • 2014
Berg,E vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
Gibraltar Open • 2012
Berg,E vs Adams,Mi0-1
Gibraltar Open • 2012
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Caruana,F1-0
VI World Blitz • 2010

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