Forever Chess GamesForever Chess Games Logo
CreateGiftsProductsGamesPlayersOpeningsTop 100FAQ

Explore

  • Players
  • Openings
  • Famous Games
  • Top 100 Games
  • World Championships

Create

  • Create Visualisation
  • How It Works
  • Gift Ideas

Eras

  • 1880s – Classical
  • 1960s – Fischer Era
  • 1990s – Kasparov Era
  • 2020s – Modern

Info

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

© 2026 Forever Chess Games. All Rights Reserved

  1. Home
  2. /Openings
  3. /Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation (C91)
C91

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation

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

Kamsky,G67 gamesShirov,A16 gamesNavara,D14 gamesGrischuk,A13 gamesAdams,Mi13 gamesCarlsen,M12 gamesKhalifman, Alexander12 gamesBeliavsky,A12 gamesGeller, Efim P12 gamesSvidler,P11 games

Related Openings

C90 - Ruy Lopez: Closed318C92 - 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

Kamsky,G vs Le,Quang Liem0-1
55th Biel GM Rapid 2022 2022Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
5th Sinquefield Cup 2017 2017Notable
Giri,A vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
7th London Classic 2015 2015Notable
Kamsky,G vs Karjakin,Sergey1-0
GRENKE Rapid WCh 2010Notable
So,W vs Howell,D1-0
WCh-Junior 2008Notable
Kamsky,G vs Navara,D1-0
37th Olympiad 2006Notable
Grischuk,A vs Bacrot,E1/2-1/2
WCC Places 3-4 2005Notable
Kamsky,G vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
WCC 2005Notable
Navara,D vs Nikolic,Pr1/2-1/2
WCC 2005Notable
Navara,D vs Nikolic,Pr1-0
WCC 2005Notable
Navara,D vs Nikolic,Pr1-0
WCC 2005Notable
Kasimdzhanov,R vs Adams,Mi1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Kobalia,M vs Beliavsky,A0-1
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Kobalia,M vs Beliavsky,A1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Adams, Michael vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Linares 14th 1997Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Anand, Viswanathan1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 5th 1996Notable
Polgar, Judit vs Anand, Viswanathan0-1
Amber-rapid 2nd 1993Notable
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Linares 1988Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Portisch, Lajos1-0
Biel Interzonal 1976Notable
Bronstein, David I vs Smyslov, Vassily1-0
Petropolis Interzonal 1973Notable

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players