Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...a6/4. Ba4/4...Nf6/5. O-O/5...Be7/6. Re1

Ruy Lopez Main Line
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) r1bqk2r/1pppbppp/p1n2n2/4p3/B3P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQR1K1
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez Main Line

Now the Whites own e-pawn is defended, the threat Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 winning a pawn becomes a serious problem for Black, whose best defence is to kick the bishop with 6...b5. 6...d6 is inferior on two counts: it allows White to play 7.c3 and save a tempo by retreating the bishop to c2 in one move, and it cuts out the option of playing ...d5.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6.Re1

	6	7	8	9
	Re1 b5	Bb3 d6	c3 d6	h3 Bb7
	... d6	c3 Bg4	d3 Nd7	Be3 h6	=
	... O-O

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References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.