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. Bb3/7...d6/8. c3

Ruy Lopez Main Line
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN)

r1bqk2r/2p1bppp/p1np1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BP2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQR1K1

Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez Main Line

With White preparing to strike in the centre with d4, Blacks king typically vacates the premises with 8...O-O. The old-fashioned move is 8...Na5, which may transpose, but the loss of control over d4 may allow White to save a tempo by omitting h3.

8...Bg4 is seen from time to time, discouraging an instant d4 by White. White will probably play d3 as a temporary measure, aiming to bring the queens knight to the kingside to evict the bishop in order to achieve d4.


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Last modified on 2 September 2009, at 23:37