Easy Guide to Defending the Spanish (Ruy Lopez)

For how to defend against the Italian and/or Scotch Openings please go here: 

Italian: http://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/defending-against-the-italian-and-tearing-down-the-berlin-wall-opening-study 

Scotch: http://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/defending-against-the-scotch-and-a-simple-solution-for-white-against-1-e4-e5

DISCLAIMER: The following puzzles are just my personal preferences, so if you do not get the puzzle right, you could still be playing a good move. Don't despair but instead go to:http://www.chess.com/explorer/ and see if your move is a top move as well. These puzzles are just to make you feel more at home in these openings. Good luck!

The Spanish (Ruy Lopez) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

In order to become truly adept at defending against an opening, you must know the opposition's ideas. Here's a blog detailing what White is trying to do to you: http://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/typical-ideas-in-the-opening-ruy-lopez-spanish 

Without furtherado let's get to puzzles in defense of "our hero": Black

Puzzles

White's main try

Please do click the "?" button at the end of the above puzzle to see all the analysis.