Ruy Lopez

If you are black, what do you like after

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 Nc6

3.Bb5 

Why?

Bc5.

I don't have enough time to explain why.

But there's a nice discussion about playing the black side of the Ruy Lopez at http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/knight-under-attackneed-advice 

this is what I play, this is a tactic a lot begineers try to win blacks e5 pawn as you can see it doesn't work.

I agree with you pvmike white can no longer castle and there is also piecewise equality. Things look good for black.

ruylopezIII wrote:

If you are black, what do you like after

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 Nc6

3.Bb5 

Why?

I dont have much experience with the main lines of the Ruy Lopez as Black but i have tried Birds defence 3...Nd4. I really only used it as an early deviation but i done well with it. Morozevic introduced some of his own ideas in this line, particularly the ...h5 idea. Its worth a look but probably not something you should rely on.

Having gained more experience with the Ruy Lopez in recent weeks, i quite like the Berlin defence. 3...Nf6 (or 3...Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6) It is quite solid and deviates earlier than the 3...a6 variations so there is less ground to cover. The Berlin defence endgame is quite themeatic so if you decide to take that path you wont be stuck if you are well read on the various ideas.

I never play e5, but I have experience playing the Ruy Lopez.  I do not think the Closed Ruy tends to offer Black any winning chances.  I also think that the Berlin is only good enough for a draw.  If I am sitting in Black's chair and I really need a win, I would go for the Schliemann Variation.  It takes an awful lot of theory work, but it cracks many unsuspecting Lopez players.  Even at the GM level, White has to walk a narrow path to acheive a +/= game.  I personally have no experience with the Schliemann.  But I do know that when I played the Lopez, the last thing I wanted to see was that vaunting f5 break.  Gave me the chills every time.  If you think that the Schliemann is not right for you, then Play an Open Ruy!  It gives Black active piece play and winning chances, but does give White a spear in the center.  It all depends on your taste.

I played a master today who responded a6, I retreated the bishop to a4, he played Nf6, I castled kingside, and he played Be7.  Of course I lost, but now after looking at the mainline I know to play Re1.

I agree with killabeez the berlin defense is good for a draw, but doens't offer black a lot of winning chances. I played the schielmann defense for a while, and it's good for a suprise but that's about it, if your opponent is prepared white should win. The open defense is solid but you need to know some theory to plat it. I like the cordel defense because it's simple and still gives black winning chances.

I don't claim to have solved chess, but e4 e5 might be a forced win for white.

srn347 wrote:

I don't claim to have solved chess, but e4 e5 might be a forced win for white.

 Isn't that a variation on Fischer's "King's pawn, I win."?

srn347 wrote:

I don't claim to have solved chess, but e4 e5 might be a forced win for white.

The discussion had been going well up til this point.

Bird's Defense or the Breyer Variation.

I almost always play the Morphy defense though I throw in the Berlin if I'm feeling feisty. I've always viewed the Ruy Lopez as an opening you sort of graduate to after you finally start to know what your doing in the middlegame/endgame. I've tried it a handful of times as wite but I'm not ready to step up to completely yet.

I'm not a GM, but I play the spanish here and there, and 3...f5! is pretty scary. If someone pulls that I know they're not ready for a sleepy game. Also, according to my database, it gives black the best chances. I believe that is called the Shliemann defence. Here's a link:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=C63