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Ruy Lopez: 4 quick facts

  • The Ruy Lopez is also known as the Spanish Game.
  • It is named for a Spanish priest, Ruy López de Segura, and was first seen in a manuscript from the late 1400s, making it one of the oldest chess openings ever. 
  • A favorite at the elite level and played in countless world champion matches, this is one of the most analyzed chess openings in history, with some lines studied over 30 moves deep!
  • It’s complex, rich in strategy, and often leads to slower, maneuvering middlegames.

Here are the moves for the Ruy Lopez:

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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

A gif showing the opening moves for the Ruy Lopez: 1. White’s e-pawn moves to e4 and Black’s e-pawn moves to e5. 2. White’s knight moves to f3 and Black’s knight moves to c5. 3. White’s bishop moves to b5.

Play smart from the start 

If you want to dive deep into opening theory and outstudy your opponents in a slow, solid, positional game, play the Ruy Lopez.

If you’re looking for more openings, check out our guide featuring over 30 options for every skill level!