Chess Openings·Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence

Open Game

Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4

Step through

7 / 7
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.

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. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
7 moves
To move
Black
Legal replies
32
Minor pieces out
White 2 · Black 1
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
r1bqkbnr/1ppp1ppp/p1n5/4p3/B3P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 1 4

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

Nearby lines

first 7 moves shared

Ruy Lopez, Open Variation…Nf6 O-O Nxe4Ruy Lopez, Closed Variation…Nf6 O-O Be7 Re1Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack…Nf6 O-O Be7 Re1Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation…Bxc6 dxc6Ruy Lopez…Nf3 Nc6 Bb5Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence…Nf6

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Open Game — Everything that starts 1.e4 e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 7 moves it is Black to move.