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. Re1/6...b5/7. Bb3

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/2ppbppp/p1n2n2/1p2p3/4P3/1B3N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQR1K1
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez Main Line

Black is no longer under any direct threat and may continue developing. Of the three natural moves, 7...Bb7 is considered a sideline, while the important difference between the main moves 7...d6 and 7...O-O is that the latter move allows the Marshall Gambit: 8...d5. Of course, Black still has the option of 8...d6, and since in modern times 7...d6 is almost always followed by 8...O-O anyway, whereas 7...O-O may cause White to panic at the prospect of a Marshall Gambit and play an anti-Marshall line, there seems to be no reason other than habit for 7...d6 to be preferred over 7...O-O.

Historically, 7...d6 was played to hold the e-pawn and allow 8...Na5, but this has not been a popular line since the 1930s.

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References

• Modern Chess Openings 15th ed, 2008. Nick de Firmian. Random House, New York. ISBN 0-8129-3682-5.