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  3. /Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System (C99)
C99

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System

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

Keres, Paul22 gamesShirov,A16 gamesSvidler,P13 gamesGeller, Efim P13 gamesTal, Mihail11 gamesSmyslov, Vassily10 gamesIvanchuk,V9 gamesLeko,P9 gamesBronstein, David I9 gamesBeliavsky, Alexander G8 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 Defense170C98 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense90

Best Games

Topalov,V vs Ivanchuk,V1-0
20th Amber Rapid 2011Notable
Anand,V vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
20th Amber Blindfold 2011Notable
Dominguez Perez,L vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
19th Amber Blindfold 2010Notable
Svidler,P vs Shirov,A1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial 2006Notable
Kotronias,V vs Shirov,A0-1
WCC 2005Notable
Almasi,Z vs Kasimdzhanov,R0-1
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Kobalia,M0-1
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Leko, Peter vs Adams, Michael1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1998Notable
Adams, Michael vs Beliavsky, Alexander G1-0
Tilburg 1992Notable
Adams, Michael vs Ivanchuk, Vassily0-1
WchT 1989Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman1/2-1/2
World Championship 18th 1948Notable
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Caruana,F1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2023 2023
Ivanchuk,V vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
16th TCh-RUS Premier 2009
Caruana,F vs Mecking,H1-0
Corus B 2009
Leko,P vs Akopian,Vl1/2-1/2
FIDE Grand Prix 2008
Ivanchuk,V vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
Pearl Spring 2008
Svidler,P vs Akopian,Vl1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008
Caruana,F vs Kobese,W1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008
Shirov,A vs Kasimdzhanov,R1/2-1/2
22nd ECU Club Cup 2006
Hou Yifan vs Kovalevskaya,E1-0
37th Olympiad w 2006

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