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The Ruy Lopez
Compiled by chessman95
--*--

I have made this collection to help myself and others play the Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Game, which has over time established itself as the main line in the Open Games (1.e4 e5). This collection will cover all the analyzed variations, with three game samples for major lines and one game sample for minor lines. Enjoy! Opening Explorer

You may have read a few books and done some research on the Ruy in your life, and if you have you have probably found that most authors tend to focus their analysis on the main lines (Closed Variations) of the Ruy Lopez, while giving only a page or two of dismissive comments on the "minor" variations. However, I decided to go through the opening explorer and see, assuming you always play the "main line" moves, how often by the time the Closed Spanish is initiated you actually stay on the main track. What I found is that, even if you only play the "main" moves, your opponent has so many chances to deviate that the Closed Spanish would only be reached in 40% of your games. My point is that there's no point in extensively studying the Closed Spanish without first knowing the basics to almost every "minor" variation there is, which is why I have tried to cover every line in this collection. DO NOT underestimate the effectiveness these openings can have when you're not prepared.

Now in case you don't know what all the names stand for, or are looking for a particular line, these are the moves that make up each variation as named in this collection:

(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5)


click for larger view

Bird Defense: 3...Nd4
Steinitz Defense: 3...d6
Jaenisch Gambit: 3...f5
Classical Defense: 3...Bc5
Berlin Defense: 3...Nf6
Smyslov Defense: 3...g6
Cozio Defense: 3...Nge7
Exchange Variation: 3...a6 4.Bxc6
Steinitz Defense Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 d6
4...b5 Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 b5
Cozio Defense Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nge7
Smyslov Defense Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 g6
Jaenisch Gambit Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 f5
Classical Defense Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Bc5
Bird Defense Deferred: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nd4
Anderssen Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3
Wormald Attack: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2
Tarrasch Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Nc3
Delayed Steinitz Defense Deferred*: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 d6

*The above variation is also called the Steinitz Defense Deferred

Archangel Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5
Open Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4
DERLD: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6
Worrall Attack: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Qe2 6.d4 Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d4
6.Nc3 Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Nc3 6.d3 Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3
6...d6 Variation: 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 d6

(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3)

Marshall Minor*: 7...0-0 8.c3 d5 (not 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6)

*Not referring to any specific line, just anything that's not the main line.

Marshall Main*: 7...0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6

*Considered the main line of the Marshall Gambit.

8.h3 Anti-Marshall*: 7...0-0 8.h3

8.a4 Anti-Marshall*: 7...0-0 8.a4

They are called the "Anti-Marshall" variations because they avoid the Marshall Gambit.

(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 or 7...d6 8.c3 0-0) Opening Explorer


click for larger view

Closed Lutikov Variation: 9.Bc2
Closed Bogoljubow Variation: 9.d4
Closed Zaitsev Variation: 9.h3 Bb7
Closed Kholmov Variation: 9.h3 Be6
Closed Smyslov Defense: 9.h3 h6
Closed 9...a5 Variation: 9.h3 a5
Closed Keres Defense: 9.h3 Nd7
Closed 9...Qd7 Variation: 9.h3 Qd7
Closed Breyer Variation: 9.h3 Nb8
Closed Chigorin Defense: 9.h3 Na5

And some interesting links on the Ruy Lopez:

Ruy Lopez (c60)

Wikipedia article: Ruy Lopez

http://www.bobby-fischer.net/ruy-lo...

http://www.expert-chess-strategies....

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adam.b...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1qg...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQHc...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSOm...

Please note that the variations are listed with the minor ones at the top and the major variations at the bottom. Enjoy!

Bird Defense
Anderssen vs Bird, 1873 
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 31 moves, 1-0

Karpov vs I Arakelov, 1969
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 37 moves, 1-0

Kasparov vs Kupreichik, 1978 
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2

Steinitz Defense
Metger vs Tarrasch, 1888 
(C62) Ruy Lopez, Old Steinitz Defense, 55 moves, 0-1

Alekhine vs Les Echecs du Palais Royal, 1925 
(C62) Ruy Lopez, Old Steinitz Defense, 29 moves, 1-0

Timman vs Miles, 1978
(C62) Ruy Lopez, Old Steinitz Defense, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2

Jaenisch Gambit
Alapin vs H W Trenchard, 1898 
(C63) Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense, 38 moves, 1-0

Teichmann vs Marshall, 1902 
(C63) Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense, 39 moves, 0-1

H Lehmann vs Spassky, 1957 
(C63) Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense, 23 moves, 0-1

Classical Defense
Morphy vs J Schulten, 1857 
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 30 moves, 1-0

Polgar vs Spassky, 1995
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs Barcza, 1952 
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 21 moves, 1-0

Berlin Defense
M Lange vs Anderssen, 1859 
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 45 moves, 0-1

Marshall vs Lasker, 1907 
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 50 moves, 0-1

Bird vs Anderssen, 1851 
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 44 moves, 1-0

Smyslov Defense
Tal vs Smyslov, 1976 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 38 moves, 0-1

Kasparov vs Smyslov, 1975 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 30 moves, 0-1

Tal vs Smyslov, 1976
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 55 moves, 1/2-1/2

Cozio Defense
Capablanca vs E Corzo, 1902 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 33 moves, 1-0

Anderssen vs L Eichborn, 1859 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 26 moves, 0-1

Spassky vs Larsen, 1969 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 67 moves, 1-0

Exchange Variation
Lasker vs Steinitz, 1894 
(C68) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, 55 moves, 0-1

Schlechter vs Rubinstein, 1918 
(C68) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, 38 moves, 0-1

Fischer vs Spassky, 1992 
(C69) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, Gligoric Variation, 21 moves, 1-0

Steinitz Defense Deferred
Lasker vs Steinitz, 1895 
(C71) Ruy Lopez, 32 moves, 1-0

Fischer vs Geller, 1961 
(C72) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O, 22 moves, 1-0

Short vs Spassky, 1986
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

4...b5 Variation
Morphy vs Allies, 1859 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 22 moves, 1-0

Cozio Defense Deferred
G Irion vs Tarrasch, 1888 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 29 moves, 0-1

Smyslov Variation Deferred
Englisch vs Steinitz, 1883
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Jaenisch Gambit Deferred
P S Leonhardt vs Marshall, 1905 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 21 moves, 0-1

Classical Defense Deferred
Alekhine vs A Rico Gonzalez, 1943 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 37 moves, 1-0

Bird Defense Deferred (1 game in database)
G A Thomas vs K Treybal, 1934 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

Anderssen Variation
Anderssen vs Paulsen, 1869 
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2

Wormald Attack
Adams vs Shirov, 2007
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2

Tarrasch Variation
G Dufresne vs Anderssen, 1861 
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 42 moves, 0-1

Delayed Steinitz Defense Deferred
Saemisch vs Alekhine, 1943  
(C79) Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred, 27 moves, 0-1

Capablanca vs A G Conde, 1919 
(C79) Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred, 46 moves, 1-0

Reti vs Rubinstein, 1922
(C79) Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred, 32 moves, 0-1

Archangel Variation
Capablanca vs O Chajes, 1913 
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 32 moves, 1-0

Kasparov vs Anand, 1995 
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2

Capablanca vs E Reeve, 1919 
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 27 moves, 1-0

Open Variation
J H Blackburne / J Kling vs E Falkbeer / A Zytogorski, 1864 
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 32 moves, 1-0

Tal vs Smyslov, 1977 
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 40 moves, 0-1

Alekhine vs Rubinstein, 1912  
(C83) Ruy Lopez, Open, 27 moves, 0-1

Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD)
Gufeld vs Tal, 1954 
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 25 moves, 0-1

Bondarevsky vs Smyslov, 1946 
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 42 moves, 0-1

J Xie vs Smyslov, 1998
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 32 moves, 1/2-1/2

Worrall Attack
Short vs Karpov, 1992 
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 28 moves, 1-0

N Riumin vs Botvinnik, 1935 
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 36 moves, 0-1

Alekhine vs K Junge, 1942  
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 28 moves, 1-0

6.d4 Variation
Loewenthal vs Morphy, 1859 
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

6.Nc3 Variation
Kolisch vs Anderssen, 1861 
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 48 moves, 1-0

6.d3 Variation
G Marco vs Schlechter, 1902 
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2

6...d6 Variation
Geller vs Keres, 1973 
(C87) Ruy Lopez, 29 moves, 1-0

Marshall Gambit Minor Variations
Capablanca vs Marshall, 1918 
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 36 moves, 1-0

Ed. Lasker vs Marshall, 1926
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Z Solmanis vs Keres, 1944 
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 48 moves, 0-1

Marshall Gambit Main Line
Anand vs Leko, 2007 
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2

Kramnik vs Leko, 2004  
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 32 moves, 0-1

Ponomariov vs Anand, 2002 
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2

8.h3 Anti-Marshall
Tal vs Spassky, 1965 
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 0-1

Kasparov vs Topalov, 2005 
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2

Kasparov vs Shirov, 2004 
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 50 moves, 1/2-1/2

8.a4 Anti-Marshall
Kasparov vs Tkachiev, 2001
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 33 moves, 1-0

Tal vs Smyslov, 1966
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2

Karpov vs Tal, 1980
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2

Closed Lutikov Variation
Lutikov vs G Fahnenschmidt, 1965
(C90) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 38 moves, 1-0

Lutikov vs Klovans, 1969
(C90) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0

Lutikov vs S Tatai, 1968
(C90) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 63 moves, 1/2-1/2

Closed Bogoljubow Variation
Fischer vs Korchnoi, 1962 
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 44 moves, 1-0

Yates vs Rubinstein, 1922 
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 37 moves, 0-1

Karpov vs Detkov, 1967 
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 30 moves, 1-0

Closed Zaitsev Variation
Kasparov vs Karpov, 1990 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 1-0

Kasparov vs Karpov, 1985 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 0-1

Kasparov vs Karpov, 1986 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 1-0

Closed Kholmov Variation
Keres vs Alekhine, 1943 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 39 moves, 1-0

Bronstein vs Botvinnik, 1944 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 64 moves, 1-0

Closed Smyslov Defense
Deep Blue vs Kasparov, 1997 
(C93) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Smyslov Defense, 45 moves, 1-0

Keres vs Spassky, 1965 
(C93) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Smyslov Defense, 39 moves, 0-1

Tal vs Gligoric, 1968 
(C93) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Smyslov Defense, 46 moves, 0-1

Closed 9...a5 Variation
A Konstantinopolsky vs Bondarevsky, 1948
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2

Najdorf vs Bolbochan, 1949
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 54 moves, 1-0

L Schmid vs Rossolimo, 1949 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 28 moves, 0-1

Closed Keres Defense
Simagin vs G Ravinsky, 1946 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 33 moves, 1-0

L Steiner vs Gligoric, 1948 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0

Gelfand vs Karpov, 1995
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2

Closed 9...Qd7 Variation
Keres vs Smyslov, 1959 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bronstein vs Smyslov, 1960
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2

Jansa vs Smyslov, 1974 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 39 moves, 0-1

Closed Breyer Variation
Tal vs Spassky, 1980 
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 44 moves, 1-0

Fischer vs Spassky, 1992 
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 50 moves, 1-0

Tal vs Spassky, 1965 
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 66 moves, 0-1

Closed Chigorin Defense
Fischer vs Kholmov, 1965 
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 46 moves, 0-1

Geller vs Keres, 1951 
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 31 moves, 0-1

Ragozin vs Botvinnik, 1940 
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 40 moves, 0-1

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