Chess Openings·Ruy Lopez, Closed Variation

Open Game

Ruy Lopez, Closed Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O

Step through

16 / 16
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.
  15. 8.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

One of the oldest and most trodden paths in the game. Pawns push forward and take room away from the opponent. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4 · e5. Nothing has been captured yet. Both sides have castled.

The position

Length
16 moves
To move
White
Legal replies
27
Minor pieces out
White 2 · Black 3
Material
level
Castling rights left
none
FEN
r1bq1rk1/2p1bppp/p1np1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BP2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQR1K1 w - - 1 9

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…e5Black: Pawn e7→e5
  3. 2.Nf3White: Knight g1→f3
  4. 2…Nc6Black: Knight b8→c6
  5. 3.Bb5White: Bishop f1→b5
  6. 3…a6Black: Pawn a7→a6
  7. 4.Ba4White: Bishop b5→a4
  8. 4…Nf6Black: Knight g8→f6
  9. 5.O-OWhite: King e1→g1 (castling)
  10. 5…Be7Black: Bishop f8→e7
  11. 6.Re1White: Rook f1→e1
  12. 6…b5Black: Pawn b7→b5
  13. 7.Bb3White: Bishop a4→b3
  14. 7…d6Black: Pawn d7→d6
  15. 8.c3White: Pawn c2→c3
  16. 8…O-OBlack: King e8→g8 (castling)

Nearby lines

first 13 moves shared

Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack…O-O c3 d5Ruy Lopez, Open Variation…Nxe4Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence…Bb5 a6 Ba4Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation…Bxc6 dxc6Ruy Lopez…Nf3 Nc6 Bb5Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence…Nf6

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Ruy Lopez, Closed Variation?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Open Game — Everything that starts 1.e4 e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 16 moves it is White to move.