Ruy Lopez
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The Ruy Lopez is simply moving the bishop out attacking the knight pinning it to either the queen or king. If you move the bishop before they move the knight out. They simply counter using the bishop or rook pawns.. Hope that helps. If you want to learn lots of openings get chessmaster grandmaster edition for the PC
look it up on chessopedia though there's not a lot it's better than nothing
Wow. There are so many variations to the Ruy Lopez. You have to learn all of the sideline Ruys like the Berlin, Cozio, Moller, Bird, and all of them. Then you need to either study the Exchange Variation which does not lead to that much of an advantage or the tremendously theoretical Ba4. If you want to play that number, you need to know theory in the Marshall or so 20 moves deep to survive. And you need to learn the Chigorin, the Breyer, and all of those lines. Or you could play something like a Worrall Attack with Qe2, which is recommended by Greet in his book. So you have a lot of theory to learn. Feel free to send me a message if you need any help on the Ruy. 
That seems a lot like the sicilian variations I tend to avoid. But let me ask you, what do you think is the likelihood for a 1500 player like me (though I am more like a 1400 one) to know much theory in the Ruy? I am not exactly going to be playing grandmasters very soon; there is the possibility that they do not know very much theory either. Can I just learn the basics of it and play games using them to get a feel for the opening, and then start learning all the different lines and theory so I can improve?
I bought a book called Play 1e5 e5! by Nigel Davies, and although I have not read it, I know that over half the book is dedicated to the Ruy Lopez. However, he starts out at move 12 on the Kere's variation. I want to figure out a way to learn the basics of the opening and get used to it before tackling stuff like this.
Or should I play a different opening?
Anyone else have anything to say?
Heres a view videos you should watch... It helped me a bit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9K-PhNVeEk
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1qgxLYZGKA
Thanks.
Oh by the way, what is the correct way to pronounce Ruy Lopez?
I usually say roo-e low-pez.
Feldmm1 wrote: That seems a lot like the sicilian variations I tend to avoid. But let me ask you, what do you think is the likelihood for a 1500 player like me (though I am more like a 1400 one) to know much theory in the Ruy? I am not exactly going to be playing grandmasters very soon; there is the possibility that they do not know very much theory either. Can I just learn the basics of it and play games using them to get a feel for the opening, and then start learning all the different lines and theory so I can improve?
Well, sooner or later, you will need to learn the Ruy Lopez. It is a MUST to learn theory on the Marshall Attack because you will lose if you don't. In other lines, you can familiarize yourself with the ideas such as the Nf1-g3 maneuver. Pretty much play 0-0, c3, and d4 in most lines and you will be perfectly fine. Just look at the position and make the natural move if you cannot remember the theory on the Ruy.
Look up Ruy Lopez in Wikipedia. Great article with an explenation of the most popular variations. It also comments on some of the problems you can run into on both sides.
Thanks for all your help. Do you think the following website is a good place to get started, or do I need to buy a book? http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/Openings/ruylopez.html
Wow, I looked at the wrong wikipedia article when I went to look. The one I went to was small.
Jun 1, 2008
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#17
Feldmm1 wrote: Anyone else have anything to say?
Yes, me.
I think you are right when you say that the chances of any 1500-ish player knowing 20 moves of Marshall are slim to say the least. And even if they did, you don't. Therefore you deviate, unknowingly, leaving them to their own devices - the devices of a 1500. No worries there.
Anyway, if you want to you can avoid the Marshall on any move really.
To start learning the Spanish I think the book Starting Out: Ruy Lopez from John Shaw (Everyman) is great for players up to 1800. Although it is skimpy on underlying strategy, it will give you an idea of what variations are playable (it's biased for white, but then, the RL is quite good for white).
What helps in the RL is that each move has a strategical point that sometimes is lacking in sharp tactical openings. It's basically a long fight by white to get d2-d4 in, and black preventing that or getting his own counterplay going. Meanwhile white wants to keep the two bishops (in the main line, not of course in the exchange). Once you know these principles you can actually play ten moves of Ruy Lopez without memorizing. After that, if your opponent hasn't deviated, you come to choices.
Thanks.
Jun 1, 2008
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#19
KillaBeez wrote: It is a MUST to learn theory on the Marshall Attack because you will lose if you don't.
Sorry but I disagree. If you're playing against a sub-1800 player the chances that (s)he knows the necessary 20 moves of Marshall theory are slim. Someone clever enough to do will not be sub-1800. Then again, someone clever enough to be over 1800 will realise that memorising 20 moves of Marshall is pretty useless because the chances of encountering someone else of around 1800 playing these 20 moves as white are also pretty slim.
And if you, after all is said and done, do meet such a rare specimen, you lose only the first game. The next time you play one of the anti-Marshall-systems. Or 5.d3. Grandmasters do.
Jun 1, 2008
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#20
Feldmm1 wrote: Thanks for all your help. Do you think the following website is a good place to get started, or do I need to buy a book? http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/Openings/ruylopez.html
Looks good. Start there, and if after a bit of study you find you are missing important things, only then start looking for a book. That website has more on strategy than the book I recommended earlier!
Once the summer starts, I intend to spend some time reading How to Reasses Your Chess by Jeremy Silman, as well as his book on endgames. Once I am done with that, however, I would like to play the Ponziani and the Sicilian less frequently and instead learn how to play the Ruy Lopez for both colors. I intend to get used to playing this opening by playing unrated games to get a feel for it. However, I need to learn how to play it in the first place. Is anyone willing to post a detailed analysis on the Ruy Lopez, suggest what variations I should use, and tell me what you believe is the best way to learn openings like the Ruy in general?