Ruy Lopez: Closed

ECO C84, C88, C90, C92 · 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7

The Closed Ruy Lopez, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7, is the main road of the Spanish Game and one of the richest opening battles in chess. Black keeps the e5 pawn firmly defended and prepares ...b5, ...d6 and ...O-O, while White builds slowly with Re1, c3, h3 and d4. After 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Black picks a system: the Chigorin 9...Na5, the Breyer 9...Nb8, the Zaitsev 9...Bb7, the Smyslov 9...h6 or the Karpov 9...Nd7.

Plans for White

White wants a broad center with pawns on e4 and d4, then reroutes the queen's knight via d2 and f1 to g3 or e3. The h3 move stops ...Bg4 from pinning the f3 knight. If Black lets the tension drop, d5 closes the center and White attacks on the kingside or opens lines with a4.

Plans for Black

Black supports e5 with ...d6, ...Re8 and ...Bf8, plays ...c5 or ...Bb7 to put pressure on d4 and e4, and expands on the queenside with ...b4 or ...c4 at the right moment.

Typical pawn structures

Both sides keep their central pawns for a long time: e4 and d4 against e5 and d6. If White pushes d5, the position becomes a closed, King's Indian-like battle with play on opposite wings.

Who it suits

Patient positional players on both sides who enjoy long maneuvering games more than early tactics.

Common traps

The b3 bishop is a target: ...Na5 forces Bc2, and in some lines ...c5-c4 can trap it. White players who want to avoid the Marshall Attack (7...O-O 8.c3 d5) choose 8.a4 or 8.h3 instead of 8.c3.

Variations

Related variations

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