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  3. /Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov Defense (C93)
C93

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov Defense

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

Geller, Efim P43 gamesSpassky, Boris V19 gamesPortisch, Lajos17 gamesTal, Mihail13 gamesSmyslov, Vassily11 gamesBeliavsky, Alexander G10 gamesReshevsky, Samuel Herman9 gamesTimman, Jan H9 gamesShort, Nigel D7 gamesKeres, Paul7 games

Related Openings

C90 - Ruy Lopez: Closed318C91 - Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation363C92 - Ruy Lopez: Closed840C94 - 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

Karjakin,Sergey vs Svidler,P0-1
Tal Memorial Blitz 2008Notable
Svidler,P vs Peng Xiaomin1-0
FIDE WCh KO 2000Notable
Kasparov, Gary vs Svidler, Peter1/2-1/2
Linares 1998Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Kamsky, Gata1-0
Linares 1991Notable
Mestel, A Jonathan vs Beliavsky, Alexander G0-1
WchT 1985Notable
Timman, Jan H vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1979Notable
Fischer, Robert James vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman1-0
Sousse Interzonal+ 1967Notable
Anand,V vs Caruana,F0-1
7th Gashimov Mem Rapid 2021
Duda,J vs Bruzon Batista,L1-0
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016
Short,N vs Azarov,S0-1
36th Olympiad 2004
Shirov, Alexei vs Beliavsky, Alexander G1/2-1/2
EUCup Gr4 1996
Anand, Viswanathan vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Novi Sad ol (Men) 1990
Timman, Jan H vs Portisch, Lajos1/2-1/2
Candidats qf2 1989
Hjartarson, Johann vs Karpov, Anatoly0-1
Linares 1989
Timman, Jan H vs Hjartarson, Johann1-0
Tilburg 1988
Short, Nigel D vs Hjartarson, Johann1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1988
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Milos, Gilberto1-0
Szirak Interzonal 1987
Huebner, Robert vs Portisch, Lajos1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1986
Timman, Jan H vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Bugojno 1986
Timman, Jan H vs Kasparov, Gary0-1
Hilversum KRO m 1985

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