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C60Play as White9 lines to train

Learn the Ruy Lopez

One of the oldest and most respected openings, pressuring the knight defending e5.

Practice this openingUnderstand the moves
Main line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3

1.e41…e52.Nf32…Nc63.Bb53…a64.Ba44…Nf65.O-O5…Be76.Re16…b57.Bb37…O-O8.d3

The idea

Why this opening works

The Ruy Lopez creates lasting positional pressure that is hard for Black to shake off. White gets a long-term space advantage and flexible pawn structure. Knowing this opening deeply gives you winning chances in nearly every middlegame type — from quiet maneuvering to sharp tactics.

What to remember

  • Know the first 8 half-moves of the main line.
  • Understand the purpose of your key moves before adding more theory.
  • Practice the branches until you can respond without move-order guessing.

Move by move

The moves worth understanding

Theory sticks when every move has a job. Start with these ideas from the trainer.

Scroll down through 8 positions

  1. Position 1 of 8

    1.e4

    e2 → e4

    Controls the center and opens diagonals for your bishop and queen.

  2. Position 2 of 8

    2.Nf3

    g1 → f3

    Develops toward the center, attacks e5, and prepares kingside castling.

  3. Position 3 of 8

    3.Bb5

    f1 → b5

    The Ruy Lopez bishop — puts pressure on the knight that defends e5. This indirect attack on the center is what makes the Ruy Lopez so powerful.

  4. Position 4 of 8

    4.Ba4

    b5 → a4

    Maintains the pin/pressure on the knight while retreating from ...a6. The bishop stays active on the a4-e8 diagonal.

  5. Position 5 of 8

    5.O-O

    e1 → g1

    Castles early, getting the king safe and the rook toward the center. White is fully developed before committing to a pawn structure.

  6. Position 6 of 8

    6.Re1

    f1 → e1

    Supports the e4 pawn and puts the rook on the most important file. Prepares for the center to open.

  7. Position 7 of 8

    7.Bb3

    a4 → b3

    Moves the bishop to safety where it still targets f7. From b3 it can't be attacked by ...c5 and stays a long-term asset.

  8. Position 8 of 8

    8.d3

    d2 → d3

    Solidifies e4 and prepares to develop the bishop to e3 or g5. A quiet but strong approach.

Trainer variations

Lines you’ll meet

These are representative branches from the drill, not a demand to memorize everything at once.

Line 11. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
Line 21. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
Line 31. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 O-O 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
Line 41. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2
Line 51. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3
Line 61. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3

Quick answers

Ruy Lopez questions

What is the Ruy Lopez?

One of the oldest and most respected openings, pressuring the knight defending e5. The Ruy Lopez creates lasting positional pressure that is hard for Black to shake off. White gets a long-term space advantage and flexible pawn structure. Knowing this opening deeply gives you winning chances in nearly every middlegame type — from quiet maneuvering to sharp tactics.

What is the main line of the Ruy Lopez?

This trainer starts with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3. The exact move order can change by variation, so learn the purpose of each move as well as the sequence.

Is the Ruy Lopez good to learn as White?

Yes. Chess Trainer recommends it as world champions' weapon. Start with the main line, then add one opponent branch at a time.

Study next

C50Italian GameClassic development with Bc4 targeting f7. Solid and principled.1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5B20Sicilian Defense (Open)The most popular response to 1.e4. Asymmetric and combative.1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-OC00French DefenseA solid counter to 1.e4 with 1...e6, leading to strategic middlegames.1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 O-O 8. Nf3

Turn the guide into recall

Now play the Ruy Lopez from memory.

The drill gives you an opponent reply, checks your response, and repeats the branches that need more work.

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