Chess Drills
Ruy Lopez: simple plans and two classic traps
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Game, has been played at the top level for well over a century. You bring your bishop to b5 and attack Black's knight on c6. That knight is the piece that defends Black's pawn on e5.
There is no direct threat yet: after 3...a6, if you take the knight and then the pawn on e5, Black's queen comes to d4 and wins the pawn back. The pressure builds slowly. You castle, put a rook on e1 and prepare the push d2-d4. Compared with the Italian Game, the play is slower and there is more to learn.
Good fit for: Players who enjoy long games with slow plans and want an opening they can keep playing for years.
Drill these 6 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Pressure on e5. Your bishop on b5 attacks the knight that defends e5. Once you have castled and put a rook on e1, taking the knight and then the pawn on e5 becomes a real threat.
- Keep the bishop. When Black's a-pawn attacks your bishop, you usually move it back to a4, and later to b3. From b3 it aims at f7 and d5 for the rest of the game.
- Pawns to c3, d4 and h3. Your pawn on c3 prepares the push to d4. The pawn on h3 stops Black's bishop from coming to g4 and pinning your knight on f3 (pinning: the knight can't move without exposing your queen).
- The knight's long trip. Your knight from b1 often travels via d2 and f1 to g3 or e3. From there it joins the play on the kingside once the centre is settled.
The main lines
Main line: the Closed Ruy Lopez
This is the classical main line. Both sides develop and castle, Black chases your bishop to b3, and you prepare the push to d4. With h2-h3 you stop Black's bishop from coming to g4.
- Your plan: castle, rook to e1, bishop back to b3, then pawns to c3 and h3, and later d4.
- Why h3? Without it, Black's bishop goes to g4 and pins the knight that supports your d4 push.
- Good to know: Black now picks one of several setups. Expect a long game where both sides move pieces around slowly.
Berlin Defense: the queens come off early
Black takes your pawn on e4 with the knight and gives it back in a very solid way. After a few exchanges the queens come off, and Black's king can no longer castle. In return Black has the two bishops and a position that is hard to break down.
- Your plan: castle, push d4, exchange on c6 and take on e5 with the d-pawn.
- Why is this good for you? You have more pawns on the kingside and your pawn on e5 gives you space.
- Good to know: this is an endgame (a game with few pieces left) that needs long, patient play.
Exchange line: you take the knight at once
You give up your bishop for the knight on c6 straight away to spoil Black's pawns. Black takes back with the d-pawn and gets doubled pawns (two pawns on the same file) on the c-file. After the centre opens, your pawns on the kingside are healthier.
- Your plan: castle, push d4 and take back on d4 with your knight.
- Why is this good for you? You have four pawns against three on the kingside, while Black's extra queenside pawn is hard to use.
- Good to know: Black gets the two bishops and easy development. Your plan is often to trade pieces and head for an endgame.
Marshall Attack: Black gives a pawn to attack your king
Instead of the quiet main line, Black castles and sacrifices a pawn with the push to d5. You win the pawn, but your queenside pieces are still at home. Black then brings the bishop, queen and other pieces towards your king.
- Your plan: take the pawn, then defend carefully and finish your development.
- Watch out: Black's queen often comes to h4 and then h3, with a direct attack on your king.
- Good to know: this line is very sharp and both sides need to know their moves. Many players avoid it by pushing the a-pawn or the h-pawn instead of c2-c3.
Open line: Black takes your pawn on e4
Black takes your pawn on e4 with the knight at once. You push your d-pawn, Black chases your bishop and builds a strong pawn on d5. Black's knight on e4 is active, but you have the pawn on e5 and play against Black's pawns on c6 and d5.
- Your plan: push d4, move the bishop back to b3, take on e5, then develop and use the d-file.
- Why is this fine for you? You win the pawn back, and Black's centre pawns can become targets.
- Watch out for Black's mistake: there is a classic trap in this line. See the Tarrasch Trap below.
Schliemann Gambit: Black counterattacks with the f-pawn
Black ignores your bishop and pushes the f-pawn two squares to attack your centre. The game becomes wild very fast, with pieces under attack on both sides. Black's queen ends up on g5, attacking your pawn on g2.
- Your plan: bring your knight to c3 and keep developing with tempo (attacking something with each move).
- Good to know: this line is risky for Black against a well-prepared opponent, but dangerous for anyone who doesn't know the moves.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
Noah's Ark Trap (a trap for you)
In an old line where Black plays d7-d6, pawns and knights are exchanged on d4. If you take back on d4 with your queen, Black's c-pawn chases it away and then traps your bishop on b3. The bishop can only escape by taking a pawn, and then a pawn takes it back. You get at most two pawns for the piece. The lesson: don't take on d4 with the queen when your bishop can be trapped.
Tarrasch Trap in the Open line
In the Open line, Black's natural queen move to d7 is a mistake. You take the bishop on e6 with your knight, and then your rook takes the knight on e4. If Black's pawn takes your rook, the d-file opens and your queen takes Black's queen on d7. You come out a piece up.
Questions
Why does Black push the a-pawn and attack the bishop?
It asks your bishop a question right away. If you take the knight, you get the Exchange line. If you move back to a4, Black can chase the bishop again with the b-pawn whenever needed, so the pressure on the knight is easy to get rid of.
Is the Ruy Lopez good for beginners?
It teaches good plans, but the main lines are long and subtle. Many players start with the Italian Game and move on to the Ruy Lopez once they are comfortable after 1.e4 e5.
How do I deal with the Berlin and the Marshall?
These are Black's two most respected defences. Against the Berlin many players avoid the endgame by pushing the d-pawn one square on move four. Against the Marshall you can push the a-pawn or the h-pawn instead of c2-c3. Learn one main line first and add these later.
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