Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Open Ruy Lopez
Black takes on e4 with 5...Nxe4; learn the active pieces, the ...d4 break and a real tactic.
The idea
Black takes the pawn on e4 and uses active pieces to pressure e5.
- The knight on e4 is backed by the pawn on d5 and can drop to c5.
- The bishop on e6 guards the pawn on d5.
- White’s pawn on e5 cramps Black but is under attack.
In a game: When Black takes on e4 early in the Ruy Lopez, play d4 and meet ...b5 with Bb3.
How the lesson begins
In the Closed Ruy Lopez Black plays 5...Be7 and keeps the centre closed. In the Open Ruy Lopez Black takes the pawn on e4 at once, with the knight. The centre opens, and that is the name.
- 5... Nxe4 Black takes the pawn.
The main line. White opens the centre and wins a pawn back, but Black’s pieces become active.
- 6. d4 White opens the centre and attacks e5.
- 6... b5 The pawn attacks the bishop on a4.
- 7. Bb3 The bishop retreats to b3, on the diagonal towards f7.
- 7... d5 The pawn supports the knight on e4 and blocks the bishop’s diagonal.
- 8. dxe5 White takes a pawn, and now the pawn on d5 is attacked twice.
- 8... Be6 The bishop defends d5.
Find the move
Black to move. The pawn on d5 is attacked by the bishop and the queen, and defended once. Add a defender with a developing move.
A hint
The bishop on c8 can reach a square from which it guards d5.
Show the answer
8... Be6
8...Be6 defends d5 and develops the bishop at the same time. Lichess calls the position after it the Main Line of the Open Ruy Lopez.