Thoughts on the Ruy Lopez?

The Ruy Lopez was the first opening that I learned as a beginner, which is probably the case for most people. Since then I haven't used it very often, as I tended to prefer the tactical possibilities of the Italian. Recently though, I tried playing the Ruy in two of my games, and in both I scored a crushing victory:

https://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=1476187114

https://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=1476196410

As such, I'm interested to learn more about this opening, and possibly add it to my repertoire in the future. I'd appreciate it if people could share their thoughts on why the Ruy is considered such a great opening, and how it can be used effectively.

Note: For those who aren't already aware, the Ruy Lopez is a chess opening consisting of the following moves:

The Ruy Lopez is a great opening! The best response, the Schliemman, 3...f5, leads to a forced win for white.

Why is the the best response if it leads to a forced win for white?

Oh, I see. So you're saying that no matter how black responds, white wins?

I played chess for awhile without ever learning the Ruy Lopez... I think I was turned off by it because "Everyone has played it", which is a weird thought process I had, so finally one day I thought why has everyone played it? And why are the masters still playing it so much?

Recently I have been learning it and now I'm playing it exclusivley when black offers me the chance (I only play e4 as white). I have been scoring really well with it, and my knowledge of the lines and variations is still very limited, I just know some key ideas and motifs and some typical manuvering paths.

One thing that surprised me about the Ruy Lopez, is it is very positional. I always had the idea that the Ruy Lopez was all about open game tactical attacking madness, I guess cause its a classic e4 opening (the oldest opening right?).

But how I feel about it now, is it starts out slow and positional, yet a lot of times I can break out a very successful mate attack on blacks castled king. Or at some point during the middle game I will claim some kind of material advantage or be left with a winning endgame.

Really right now my biggest problem with it I'm trying to figure out is sometimes black has launched succesful attacks against my castled king, usually involving a bishop sack on h3 opening up my king. But I have a feeling that one of the ways to avoid this is to play moe correct moves earlier in the middle and keep the iniative on my side giving black constant problems.

Either way I'm loving the Ruy Lopez and intend to stick with it for a long time.

Perhaps it would be helpful to look at Starting Out: Ruy Lopez by John Shaw (2003)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf

and/or The Ruy Lopez: Move by Move by Neil McDonald (2011).

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627022042/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen153.pdf

Apparently, the Ruy Lopez is Anatoly Karpov's favourite opening.

If it's good enough for Anatoly, it's good enough for me.

Here is my latest Ruy Lopez game from this morning. A blitz game so take it for what its worth. But I've been getting some monster attacks on blacks king fairly early with the Ruy Lopez, though admittedly its often overly ambitious and unsound however it worked out in this case. I was proud of 15. Nf6+ sacking my Rook... I didn't deliver the final blow very well, I couldve mated black quicker/easier, but I still got the job done eventually lol.

I didn't even know 3.f5 had a name lol. I had a couple blitz opponents play this recently. I'd never seen it before but I was like this HAS to be bad..... it was.

Robert_New_Alekhine wrote:

The Ruy Lopez is a great opening! The best response, the Schliemman, 3...f5, leads to a forced win for white.

No, Bc5 loses!!

Nice game! I like the finishing sequence.

Thoughts on the Ruy:

If someone plays it against you, resign. You're going to be checkmated in 6 moves on the f7 square. Example line:

What about 6. ... Qxd2?

Robert, in your game, why can't black try a desperado, Qxe5 maneuver? Is he really losing in all variations? Is white's attack on the f7 pawn that strong?

Qxe5 Qxf7+ Kd8 Qf8 Qe8 d4 Nh6 Bg5#

Black loses his queen, isn't that obvious? Losing one of the royalty means losing the game.

Lol Robert... I love how the Queen has no choice but to retreat back to the d8 square. Clearly Bc5 is insta lose.

Qxe5 Qxf7+ Kxf7

How does this lose?

Well, I think I have the DEFINITIVE answer for people who doubt about RUY LOPEZ and every opening.

The core is: your DNA MUST fit the opening.

For exemple, if you are Mexican and live in USA for a long time; has absorbed the American Culture, then you can play English opening, or even The Slav opening.

In this case, sometimes your body (your DNA) will fight against the opening, because you still have some Mexican roots. But it is a matter of adaptation.

French Defense is good only for France citizens, for obvious reasons.

If you are not French, you will face troubles playing the French Defense, because your DNA is not compatible. Your body will react and you may feel unconfortable playing it.

English Defense is good for Americans, because of the American History.

If you are spanic and live in USA, you can also try The Sicilian or French Defense, because of the latin origin.

Remember, your DNA MUST fit the opening, or you will lose the game.

Yes, it is complicated, but this thing about DNA x best opening is easy to understand if you analyse THE CORE of the question.

AND RUY LOPEZ?????? It is better for Spanish and for latins in general, like French, Portuguese, Brazilians...

Well, that might explain why I love the Italian so much. I lived next to an Italian restaurant for 2 years, and it was during those years that I started playing chess regularly. Good times...

It is easy to explain. You live in USA, but you got some "spirit" from Italy because of your neighborohood.

That is why you feel confortable with The Italian. Your DNA accepts the opening; it is natural.