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  3. /Ruy Lopez: Closed (C90)
C90

Ruy Lopez: Closed

Key moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest and most classic chess openings. White develops the bishop to b5, putting indirect pressure on the e5 pawn through the knight on c6. It leads to rich strategic positions with deep plans for both sides.

History & Notable Players

Named after the 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura. It has been a cornerstone of chess opening theory for over 500 years and remains one of the most popular openings at all levels.

Top Players in this Opening

Adams, Michael19 gamesCarlsen,M17 gamesKeres, Paul16 gamesGeller, Efim P12 gamesShort, Nigel D12 gamesSmyslov, Vassily12 gamesSvidler,P10 gamesGrischuk,A10 gamesRubinstein, Akiba10 gamesTal, Mihail10 games

Related Openings

C91 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation363C92 - Ruy Lopez: Closed840C93 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov Defense182C94 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense57C95 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer650C96 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense276C97 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense170C98 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense90C99 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Panov System236

Best Games

Anand,V vs Aronian,L0-1
Saint Louis Blitz 2017 2017Notable
Carlsen,M vs Aronian,L1-0
3rd Norway Chess 2015 2015Notable
Adams,Mi vs Caruana,F1-0
6th London Classic 2014 2014Notable
Topalov,V vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
18th Amber Rapid 2009Notable
Hou Yifan vs Kosteniuk,A0-1
WCh-Women 2008Notable
Leko,P vs Carlsen,M1-0
Tal Memorial Blitz 2008Notable
Svidler,P vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 2007Notable
Svidler,P vs Leko,P0-1
Amber Rapid 2007Notable
Ponomariov,R vs Aronian,L0-1
WCC 2005Notable
Areshchenko,A vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
WCC 2005Notable
Smirin,I vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2000Notable
Akopian, Vladimir vs Khalifman, Alexander1/2-1/2
FIDE-Wch k.o. 1999Notable
Kasparov, Gary vs Svidler, Peter1/2-1/2
Linares16th 1999Notable
Topalov, Veselin vs Svidler, Peter1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1998Notable
Polgar, Judit vs Anand, Viswanathan0-1
Amber-blind 5th 1996Notable
Polgar, Judit vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1-0
Amber-rapid 5th 1996Notable
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam vs Slobodjan, Roman1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1995Notable
Adams, Michael vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1994Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Romanishin, Oleg M1/2-1/2
PCA-Wch Candidats m2 1994Notable
Short, Nigel D vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1-0
Amber-blind 2nd 1993Notable

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