Which is better, Italian Game or Ruy Lopez Opening

These are two popular chess openings, but which is better? Post your opinion below.

*PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC* 

The one you know in more depth.

For me Ruy Lopez for sure

I play the italian

imo Italian sounds like a great idea for it's simplicity and being solid. You also risk getting hit by berlin in the spanish

I started out (about 50 years ago) playing non-Lopez things like the Scotch & Italian, because they looked more fun and there was less complicated maneuvering like in the mainline Ruy. In retrospect, I wish I had more oomph to study the Lopez, since it looks like a much more solid choice. They both look OK to me and sometimes the Italian looks a lot like the Ruy in the more closed lines.

Spanish

For me-- I prefer Ruy Lopez and find Italian game slow. I've also spent a huge amount of time (for someone at my level) studying games with it. (But in my last 10 with the Ruy I faced the Marshall and I'd like to see something else a few times in between Marshalls.)

I do see that the Italian is less forcing so gives more freedom to play well and to err sooner.

- Bill

Do you play one of the anti-Marshalls (8. a4 or d4)?

Neither! Avoid them both by playing 2...Nf6!! No Italian, No Spanish Torture!

Avoid the Marshall all together! If they play 3...a6, then 4.Bxc6!!

Hey Bill, I can definitely relate to your thoughts on the Ruy Lopez and Italian game. I also find the Italian a bit slow at times, but it gives me the chance to think through the position more carefully. I agree that the freedom in the Italian makes it easier to play well without too much pressure. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you’d approach a Marshall game with a bit more variety in the middle game—any favorite strategies or openings you prefer to mix things up?

Hey Bill, that’s a great point about avoiding the Marshall in certain games! I can see why you’d want to mix things up between Marshalls. The Italian is definitely more flexible and less forced, which allows for a bit more creativity. I like your suggestion to avoid the Marshall completely—I'll have to try 3...a6 and 4. Bxc6 next time! Do you have any other tips for switching up the opening strategy?

Ruy Lopez is definitely a classic choice! It’s such a solid opening with a lot of depth. Do you prefer any specific variations of the Ruy Lopez, or do you stick to the main lines? I’m always curious to hear other players' approaches!

So .... vs the Marshall, OTB I've won every game I've faced it--eventually- in an equal endgame.

In blitz it is formidable. In Blitz I've played less common lines in it (e.g. Fischer's g3 line), the doubly delayed exchange (which feels like an anti Sicilian), the early d4 line (which has poison & works well in blitz), the line where white played d4 in response to d5 (good in theory but didnt work well for me), and the early d3 line (which also puts black under pressure). I've never tried the a4 anti-Marshall. Need to study its MG and try it!

- Bill

At lower levels there's really no difference. You might just as well get a better score with the Latvian gambit compared to the Spanish game. Pick one you prefer and get to know it well.

Caro kann and queens gambit

This crap happens in every forum thread about openings. The issue is Italian or Ruy. No one gives a crap about these other openings here. Go start your own forum thread about your own favorite openings if you want.