Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...d6

Ruy Lopez
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black knightd6 black pawne6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 white bishopc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6
Parent: Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez

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The move is sometimes called the Old Steinitz Defence because it is viewed as not best for black. The pawn on e5 is not threatened by Bxc6 so there is no need to defend it. Black allows his light square Bishop to become active, but at the same time his dark square bishop is getting blocked, so there isn't much of any gain in development. The move also allows white to play d4 immediately.

Theory table

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

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6
4 5 6 7
Steinitz Defence d4
Bd7
Nc3
exd4
Nxd4
g6
Be3
Bg7
+=
Steinitz Defence Bxc6+
...
Old Steinitz Defence d4
Bd7
d5
Nce7
Bxd7+
Qxd7
0-0
0-0-0
a4
+=

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References

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