How Do I Stay with My Opening?

Let's say as a novice I've really got the major variations of the Ruy Lopez down. I open with e4, my opponent plays c5 instead of e5. How do I stay with the RL or must I learn a c5 opening also? Similarly, how does one stay with their known opening as Black?

I think the answer is that I have to know more than one for Black and one for White.

Comments?

You can't stay with the RL if your opponent plays c5. You have to learn different openings because different players will respond in different ways.

If you play 1. e4 it is actually more likely that you will get c5 (a Sicilian Defence)  than e5 in reply. As a consequence you are going to have to learn a response to various black defences. 1. ... c5 obviously but also d5, e6, c6, d6, g6 and Nf6 are reasonably common. You can either learn a line or two in each of those defences or if you want a one size fits all solution look up the King's Indian Attack.

RyanMK wrote:

You can't stay with the RL if your opponent plays c5. You have to learn different openings because different players will respond in different ways.

So, Skakmati, a very simple reason for that which RyanMK wrote relates to understanding what the opening is about, which means there is a theme for the opening.

Take a look at this: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, here white attacks the e5 pawn and that is only possible if black actually played e5 (well white could of course still attack and/or take control of the e5 square also if black didn't play the pawn to e5, but there would be no pawn to attack and that makes a difference for the opening theme).

2... Nc6, here black defends the e5 pawn (as well as develops the knight).

3.Bb5, here white undermines black's protection of the e5 pawn and we now have Spanish (Ruy Lopez).

So you see, this theme, fighting about the e5 pawn, won't apply if black plays 1... c5, it will be a different theme.

The Lopez theme does work in the Sicilian.  It is one of my main anti-Sicilians.  It is called the Rossolimo.  With natural and straightforward moves, white has a good chance at getting a slight edge.

In correspondences chess i have found that of 9 games i opened only 1 was replied with something other than 1...e5(1...c5)

If you wish to continue starting with e4, you need to know sicilian(e4 c5). This is the most popular response to e4, next to d5, e5, and e6.

Yes, either e4 c5 Nf3 d6 Bb5, or e4 c5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb5 are both standard lines...otherwise, you may consider planting the bishop on c4 and fighting for that diagonal.

Thank you everyone. I understand and do appreciate your responses.

Thanks again all.