C96

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres 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

Giri,A vs Nakamura,Hi1-0
20th Amber Blindfold • 2011★ Notable
Dominguez Perez,L vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
39th Olympiad Men • 2010★ Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Howell,D1-0
GRENKE Rapid WCh • 2010★ Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Mamedyarov,S0-1
Tal Memorial Blitz • 2008★ Notable
Hou Yifan vs Howell,D1/2-1/2
WCh-Junior • 2008★ Notable
Leko,P vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial • 2006★ Notable
Leko,P vs Kramnik,V1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold • 2005★ Notable
Kramnik,V vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
Amber Rapid • 2003★ Notable
Anand,V vs Ponomariov,R1/2-1/2
Dual of the WCh • 2002★ Notable
Morozevich,A vs Ponomariov,R1-0
FIDE WCh KO • 2001★ Notable
Shirov,A vs Grischuk,A1-0
FIDE WCh KO • 2000★ Notable
Topalov, Veselin vs Piket, Jeroen1/2-1/2
FIDE-Wch k.o. • 1997★ Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Rainfray, Arnaud1/2-1/2
Wch U14 Disney • 1996★ Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Romanishin, Oleg M1/2-1/2
PCA-Wch Candidats m2 • 1994★ Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Romanishin, Oleg M1-0
PCA-Wch Candidats m2 • 1994★ Notable
Short, Nigel D vs Portisch, Lajos1-0
Tilburg • 1988★ Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Portisch, Lajos1-0
Tilburg • 1984★ Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal • 1976★ Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman1/2-1/2
Amsterdam Interzonal • 1964★ Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
Amsterdam Interzonal • 1964★ Notable

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