Why study this opening?
With 3.Bb5, White attacks the knight on c6, a defender of e5. The opening is a struggle over the center, not a way to win a pawn immediately. White also clears the way to castle on the kingside.
Ruy Lopez
Learn Ruy Lopez: starter moves, key ideas, plans for both sides and common mistakes on ChessRivo.
Starter line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
pressure on e5rapid development
Plan for White
Keep the bishop if you want lasting pressure: after ...a6, Ba4 is one choice. Castle and use Re1 to support e4. A later c3 can help prepare d4, but check Black’s central replies before opening the position.
Plan for Black
Black can use ...a6 to ask the bishop where it wants to go, then develop with ...Nf6 and ...Be7. In the example, ...b5 gains space and ...d6 supports e5. These pawn moves need to fit a development plan; they do not replace castling.
Common mistake
Do not trade on c6 simply because the capture is available. Compare the resulting pawn structure with the value of giving up a bishop. Do not assume that removing a defender makes e5 a free pawn: calculate the opponent’s reply.
Related openings
Play on ChessRivo Open ChessRivo AcademyPractice plan for Ruy Lopez
Use this short routine to turn the opening ideas into playable habits instead of memorising moves.
- Set up the starter line on a board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5.
- Explain how Re1 and c3 support different parts of White’s central plan.
- Play three practice games, then review the first move where your position stopped following the plan.
A development example
This is one legal example, not a forced sequence or a recommendation against every reply. N means knight, B bishop and O-O kingside castling; the notation below uses international English piece letters.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O
After 6.Re1, the rook supports e4. Black’s ...b5 sends the bishop to b3, where it remains active on a diagonal toward f7. The move c3 helps prepare d4. Black completes castling; White still needs to develop the queenside pieces. The position is not a finished plan that can be played without watching the opponent.
Check your understanding
Why play Re1 in this example?
It adds support to e4 and gives the rook a role in the center after castling.
Is exchanging the bishop on c6 compulsory?
No. Retreating preserves the bishop, while exchanging changes the pawn structure and gives up the bishop pair. Choose according to the resulting position.