italian vs Ruy lopez

Hello everybody,

After e4-e5 Nf3-nc6 are there 2 main kings bishop moves.

Bb4 (ruy lopez) or Bc5 (italian).

What are the advantages and negative sides of each opening? Is there something like a better opening, or do both have their own qualities. If so, what are they?

Hope you can help me being able to explore these openings better.

Personally, I prefer the scotch.

This might not be completely correct, but they are the facts as I understand them...

These days, the Ruy Lopez is seen in GM play way more than the Italian Game. I think this is due to the belief that the Ruy Lopez gives white more chance of a win, whereas the Italian Game is more likely to lead to a draw (see Guioco Piano and Pianissimo). However, there tends to be more theory in the Bb5 lines, whereas it's much easier to just play 'naturally' after Bc4. It really depends on your own preference.

You have the coordinates confused.  The openings you are referring to are entered with either 3. Bb5  (attacking the knight) or  3. Bc4   with the difference being that Bc4 is a "quieter" move.  In fact, if play continues 3...Bc5 this is literally referred to as Il Giucco Piano, which translates into English:  The Quiet Game.  Basically the Ruy Lopez is a sharper choice, whereas the Giuco Piano involves more positional play and strategizing.

ruy lopez is very postional as well

I do not believe you can say one opening is better than another, it is a matter of taste. 

The Italian Game is strong because it is positionally strong.  2.Nf3 puts the King's knight on its most effective post and 3.Bc4 puts the bishop on the strongest diagonal, aiming at black's f7 square.  There are two ways to play the Italian.  You can have a slow buildup or quick pressure.  The Italian is built for a more tactical game, so a drawback is that white's king is not as safe.

The Ruy Lopez is strong because it creates a strong center.  The bishop moves four times to eventually arrive at c2, where it can strengthen e4 immensely, allowing for a c3-d4 advance.  The Ruy Lopez is a slow positional battle.  White aims to have a slow buildup that paralyzes black because of his strong center.  The only drawback is that white does not have the kingside pressure as in the Italian, so he must slowly outplay black.  White has a much safer king than in the Italian.

Summary:

The Italian has the strongest pieces, but does not have a powerful center of the Ruy Lopez.

The Ruy Lopez has the strongest center, but does not have the strongest pieces.

They are both very solid replies to 1.e4 e5.

In my opinion, both moves are equal.  Bc4 has many more traps, but a good player can acheive equality in the Bc4 lines much easier than in the Ruy.  Bb5 promises White an enduring but slight positional advantage and GMs like that much better.