A complete demonstration of the Ruy Lopez

My preferred opening as white i the Ruy Lopez, so naturally I did some reading on it. Of course I needed some way to store the numerous lines and variations arising from this defense, including what i might play, as well as what I might see from black. So I decided to create a diagram covering almst every position that might come from this opening, and if I had already created it, there was no reason not to share it with everyone here on chess.com. The only problem I encountered was that my computer slowed down because of the large size of the diagram, so I instead made 3 different diagrams which, together, achieve my initial goal.

*Note - the lines in the diagrams follow the article. ie. Don't think that just because it is root variation of the diagram that it is the main variation. The author actually liked to first go through the more zany variations. I prbably should have structured it with the main line of the Ruy Lopez as the main line in the diagram, but I suppose it is what it is

The first diagram goes through variations of the Berlin Defense (3…Nf6), Bird’s Defense (3…Nd4), the Classical/Cordel Defense (3…Bc5), the Schliemann Gambit (3…f5), the Steinitz Defense (3…d6), and covers some ideas of the main line with 3…a6, including the exchange variation and the Morphy Defense (4. Ba4). The final line it contains is the (probably worse) 6.Re1 variation in the Open Defense (5…Nxe4) deriving from the Morphy Defense.

The second diagram finishes looking at the Open Defense and moves on to lines in the Closed Defense (5…Be7), including the Center Attack (6. d4), the Worrall Attack (6. Qe2), and finally continues with the main line after 6. Re1. It finishes with looking at various lines of the Marshall Counter Gambit after 7…O-O, as well as ways to avoid the counter gambit as white if you see black play this move.

This final diagram looks at positions where black avoids the Marshall Counter Gambit, instead opting for a more solid defense, especially after the Chigorin Variation of 9…Na5, which is one of the most popular lines for the Ruy Lopez along with the previously covered Berlin Defense.

this is great, it should be more appreciated

I stopped reading when he said the Ruy Lopez was a defense.

this takes a long time and effort to do... should get more views.

Anyways, this is excellent!

I have a quick question: black guards the f5 square with his bishop. If you jump there with your knight supported only by your pawn and he takes it, is it a good thing or a bad thing for you to have your central pawn moved to f5?

It looked like a thorn in black's position, but on the other hand it seems securely blockaded against the black knight on f6.

The advantage of taking with the pawn is that you free the field e4. This is one of the most important squares for white in the Ruy Lopez. With preparation white will be able to move a knight of a bisschop there completly paralyzing black. 

Thank you guys, Estragon thanks for the effort :)

I reached this position, and while I was satisfied with the opening I didn't see a clear way to proceed. Here jumping immediately on f5, Bxf5 and exf5 I thought it didn't give me anything. The diagonal for my light squared bishop was blocked and e4 was not under my control.

So I decided to remanouver the other knight to get a knight on f5 supported by the other knight.

It was a OTB friendly game, but from memory it went like this. It was a nice game for me, but it really highlighted my shortcomings because I didn't really understand the position.

the sharpest line is Ruy lopez - zaitsev variation. the 2 K's had played many an immortal games in this line

Thanks so much for your time and effort. It's a wonderful demo.

Thanks for sharing that. You wouldn't happen to have the same thing for the Queen's Gambit by any chance?

FYI, the following link is not working for me:

The link to the article is http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adam.bozon/ruylopez.htm and includes a number of example games using the Ruy Lopez. Perhaps this post is best used in conjunction with the article, reading it and viewing the results here.

I think this is great.  for a used-to-be better player I'm having to start somewhere and this Ruy lopez thing seems like as good a place as any. Whats good is you have clearly shown various other reactions to it so it is now a case of playing a hundred games or so to get it down. Thank you for putting all this work together as it is of great benefit and also thanks for the names of all the common counter attacks. Slowly but surely I'll up my game.