Yes, white can ruin the pawn structure if Exchange or Delayed Exchange variation is played. However black has compensation of the bishop pair. So it's a give and take situation. The main idea in the Ruy Lopez is positional pressure against the knight on c6 as opposed to taking it. That's why the main line after black plays a6, the bishop just moves to a4.
Ruy Lopez for beginners? how would it work at sub 800 levels?
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Thank you for the response.
Interesting, a bishop exchange by potentially sacrificing the bishop to take the knight but at the expense of freeing up the other side's bishops. I did not think to do such an early sacrifice.
Truth be told, my idea of ruining the pawn structure was by provoking the scholar's mate counter:
Bishop b5, pawn a6, Bishop a4,
pawn b5.
How do I take advantage of pawn b5?
What are the pros and cons to the exchange and delayed exchange variation vs bishop b3 after the above?
Apr 15, 2023
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#4
The b3 bishop is on a long diagonal plus you maintain the bishop instead of exchanging it for the c6 knight. Later white can play a4 putting pressure on the b5 pawn.
I agree. White later ideas are also to play c3 followed by d4 attacking e5. You can move the Spanish bishop back to c2 if it is ever attacked. There is also Nd2, Nf1, followed by Ne3 trying to get into d5. After this you can start an attack.
Probably a lot of people will play the Steinitz against you and now you can play d4 as the knight actually is pinned.
I thought this was a good video as it shows ideas which are applicable to lower levels:
Apr 15, 2023
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#7
feranard wrote:
I can guess that the Ruy Lopez can spoil the queen side pawn structure but I don’t know how else to apply it.
Ruy Lopez was the first opening I learned after the Scholar's mate. It brought me a lot of victories but I got bored with it and I have seen a lot of folks who have played it and kinda too common among my peers when I was a kid. So it does work for sub 800.
But at those levels, the opening setup is secondary. I find being good at tactics is much much better because folks will often play some random move. As you go towards CM/NM range, opening prep becomes critical.
Apr 16, 2023
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#8
I personally don't recommend it to my students because there's so much to learn. I just keep it simple with Italian game. It's very easy to play and not a lot of ways to go wrong. I personally play all openings and Spanish is one of the most reliable way to get that nagging edge at a higher level.
I wouldn't recommend playing the Ruy Lopez until you're at least 1600 level. Play the Italian or Scotch instead. Far easier to learn and play.
Last 2 comments are completely wrong. If you watch the video you will see that Ruy Lopez is a brilliant weapon at lower levels.
Not a lot of people know how to play against it so you can get a very good position. Once you reach the level where people do know how to play against it, you will also be higher level.
Ruy Lopez is a timeless opening which you can stick with from beginner to master. It will always be good.
I can guess that the Ruy Lopez can spoil the queen side pawn structure but I don’t know how else to apply it.