Ruy Lopez
Also called the Spanish Opening.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
An opening for White
The classical main line the world champions trust.
The idea
White pins pressure on the knight defending e5 by developing the bishop to b5. It's the most respected 1.e4 e5 opening at every level, prized for long-term positional pressure.
The plan
Castle, play c3 and d4 to build the centre, and slowly manoeuvre your pieces to the kingside. The Ruy is about patience, not an early knockout.
One tip for beginners
You don't need to memorise 20 moves of theory. Develop, castle, and aim for a big pawn centre with c3 and d4.
What to watch out for
Don't grab the e5 pawn too early with Bxc6 and Nxe5 - Black's ...Qd4 fork tricks catch beginners out.
Who plays it
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