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  3. /Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense (C98)
C98

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin 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

Smyslov, Vassily16 gamesFischer, Robert James9 gamesRubinstein, Akiba8 gamesKeres, Paul7 gamesReshevsky, Samuel Herman7 gamesSpassky, Boris V6 gamesKarpov, Anatoly6 gamesBotvinnik, Mikhail5 gamesTal, Mihail5 gamesBronstein, David I3 games

Related Openings

C90 - Ruy Lopez: Closed318C91 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation363C92 - Ruy Lopez: Closed840C93 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov Defense182C94 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense57C95 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer650C96 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense276C97 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense170C99 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System236

Best Games

Geller, Efim P vs Smyslov, Vassily1-0
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Filip, Miroslav1/2-1/2
WchT U26 1957Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 21th 1957Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 21th 1957Notable
Euwe, Max vs Smyslov, Vassily0-1
World Championship 18th 1948Notable
Lasker, Emanuel vs Tarrasch, Siegbert0-1
World Championship 8th 1908Notable
Lasker, Emanuel vs Tarrasch, Siegbert1-0
World Championship 8th 1908Notable
Navara,D vs Rapport,R1-0
39th TCh-GRE 2011
Svidler, Peter vs Piket, Jeroen1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1998
Karpov, Anatoly vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
URS-ch41 1973
Tal, Mihail vs Smyslov, Vassily0-1
Herceg Novi blitz 1970
Geller, Efim P vs Mecking, Henrique1-0
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970
Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Smyslov, Vassily1-0
Belgrade URS-World 1970
Tal, Mihail vs Filip, Miroslav1-0
Portoroz Interzonal 1958
Bronstein, David I vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman1-0
Candidats Tournament 1953
Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Adams, Weaver Warren1-0
USA-ch prel 1939
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Lombaers,P1-0
Gibraltar Masters 2014 2014
Duda,J vs Zeberski,J1/2-1/2
5th Open 2010
Mahoney,Ian vs Shirov,A0-1
Scarborough CC Shirov simul 2010
Rapport,R vs Lengyel,B1/2-1/2
FSIM December 2007

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