Ruy Lopez Opening: Morphy Defense Variations

Ruy Lopez Opening

Definition

The Ruy Lopez (also called the Spanish Opening) is reached after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. White immediately puts pressure on Black’s e-pawn while beginning kingside development. It is one of the oldest, most heavily analysed openings in chess and serves as the parent system for countless defences and variations.

Typical Move-Order

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

Strategic Ideas

White strives for long-term pressure on the queenside and centre, usually aiming for c2–c3 and d2–d4, or the slower “Spanish Torture” plan with Re1, c3, d3, Nbd2, Nf1–g3.
Black chooses from several defences (Morphy, Closed, Open, Berlin, Schliemann, et al.) that determine whether the struggle will be tactical or positional.
The tension surrounding the e- and d-files often produces rich middlegame structures (e.g., the “Madrid endgame” after the Berlin).

Historical Notes

Named after 16 th-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who analysed the opening in his 1561 treatise. Its modern popularity began in the 19 th century when players like Paul Morphy and Wilhelm Steinitz wielded it with great success.

Illustrative Game

Morphy vs. Anderssen, Paris 1858
Morphy used the Ruy Lopez to defeat Adolf Anderssen in a sparkling attacking game that popularised 3…a6, later called the Morphy Defense.

Interesting Facts

The Ruy Lopez accounts for a large percentage of master-level 1.e4 e5 games; in World Championship matches from 1950-2023 it is the single most frequent opening after 1.e4.
Some lines lead to forced queen exchanges by move 8 (Berlin), while others keep all pieces on the board into the late middlegame (Chigorin, Breyer).

Morphy Defense

Definition

The Morphy Defense is Black’s most popular reply to the Ruy Lopez, defined by the move 3…a6 after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. The advance forces White’s bishop to decide its future immediately and prepares …b5, gaining space and questioning the Bb5 pin.

Typical Move-Order

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 …a6

The main continuation is 4.Ba4, though 4.Bxc6 (Exchange Variation) is also common.

Strategic Ideas

…a6 and …b5 chase the bishop and claim queenside space.
Black keeps the c6-knight flexible; after …Nf6 he can choose between the solid Closed Systems (…Be7) or the dynamic Open Ruy (…Nxe4).
The move …a6 also supports eventual …d5 breaks, a central theme of the entire Spanish complex.

Historical Significance

Named for American prodigy Paul Morphy, whose pioneering use of 3…a6 in the 1850s demonstrated that Black could meet the Ruy Lopez aggressively instead of crouching with early …d6 (Steinitz Defense).

Example Line

4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 enters the main Closed Spanish. Alternatively 4.Ba4 Bc5 is the Anderssen Variation, and 5.O-O d6 is the Duras Variation (see below).

Interesting Facts

According to the Mega-Database 2023, 3…a6 appears in roughly 80 % of all Ruy Lopez games played by grandmasters.
Modern engines confirm that Black’s position after 3…a6 is completely sound; some analysis even shows slight practical chances for Black in certain Anti-Marshall lines.

Anderssen Variation (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense)

Definition

The Anderssen Variation arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Bc5. Instead of the customary 4…Nf6 or 4…d6, Black develops the bishop to an active diagonal, immediately targeting the f2-square and discouraging White’s d2–d4 break.

Strategic Themes

Rapid development: Black puts a piece on c5 before committing the kingside knight, hoping to seize the initiative.
Potential kingside pressure: Tactics against f2 and along the a7-g1 diagonal can appear if White castles prematurely.
Structural concessions: After 5.Bxc6 (an option for White), Black recaptures with …dxc6, accepting doubled pawns in return for the bishop pair and open lines.

Typical Continuations

5.c3 Nf6 6.d4 exd4 7.e5 Ne4 leads to a sharp central battle.
5.O-O Nf6 6.Nxe5!? (rare but critical) 6…Nxe5 7.d4 challenges the bishop on c5.

Historical Background

Named after 19 th-century attacking legend Adolf Anderssen, who favoured early, active piece play. Although never a main line at elite level, the variation enjoyed sporadic popularity in the Romantic era and is occasionally revived as a surprise weapon today.

Illustrative Miniature

Interesting Facts

Because 4…Bc5 allows 5.Bxc6, some modern manuals classify the line as objectively dubious, yet engines give Black adequate chances provided precise play.
GM Baadur Jobava has employed the Anderssen Variation in rapid events, scoring a respectable plus-score against strong opposition.

Duras Variation (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense)

Definition

The Duras Variation appears after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O d6. Instead of the immediate 5…Be7 (Closed) or 5…b5 6.Bb3 Be7 (Chigorin), Black reinforces the e5-pawn with …d6 before committing other pieces.

Strategic Purpose

Solid centre: …d6 guards e5 and prepares a later …Be7, …O-O, and occasionally …b5.
Flexible development: By withholding …b5, Black keeps options open for piece placement (e.g., …g6 and a King’s Indian-style setup).
Potential transpositions: With careful sequencing Black can transpose to the Steinitz Deferred, the Breyer, or even certain Open Spanish structures if he later plays …Nxe4.

Typical Plans

For White

Play c3 & d4 quickly (the “Centre Attack”).
Adopt the slow buildup with Re1, c3, h3, d3, Nbd2, maintaining the bishop on a4.

For Black

Counter in the centre with …d5 after adequate preparation.
Expand on the queenside with …b5 and …c5.
Fianchetto the dark-squared bishop with …g6 and …Bg7, a setup pioneered by the variation’s namesake.

Historical Context

Named after Czech grandmaster Oldřich Duras (1882-1957), renowned for his positional style and endgame technique. Duras employed this move-order to steer opponents away from well-trodden Closed Spanish theory, achieving a number of fine wins in the early 20 th century.

Model Game

Duras vs. Rubinstein, Karlsbad 1907 — although Duras was on the White side here, the game’s opening embodied his preferred ideas for Black and cemented the variation’s name in opening literature.

Interesting Facts

The line is considered positionally sound but slightly passive; nevertheless, it has been adopted occasionally by modern stars such as Sergei Tiviakov and Vishy Anand in rapid play.
Because 5…d6 can transpose into numerous other Spanish systems, some databases simply label it “Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (5…d6).”