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Have you tried using opening books and databases? They might help you learn some openings and avoid the closed locked up position you had to suffer through in that game.

They are legal to use in daily games. In the above position, you can see that 3..d6 is not very popular in the Ruy López.
If you select d6, you can see the range of moves played.

4 d4 was the number one choice. It would probably have opened up your game right then!
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