Ruy Lopez Opening: Morphy Defense Closed Yates Bogoljubov
Ruy Lopez Opening
Definition
The Ruy Lopez (also called the Spanish Opening) arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. White immediately attacks the knight on c6, which is the sole defender of Black’s e-pawn, and simultaneously prepares rapid development and kingside castling. Named after 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, it is one of the oldest and most deeply analysed openings in chess.
Typical Move Order
- 3…a6 (Morphy Defense) is by far Black’s most common reply.
- Other tries include 3…Nf6 (Berlin Defense) and 3…d6 (Steinitz Defense).
Strategic Ideas
- Pressure on e5: If Black ever plays …d6 too early, the e-pawn can become an enduring target.
- Bishop pair vs. structure: White often allows the exchange on c6, yielding the two bishops to Black but inflicting structural damage (doubled c-pawns).
- Long-term manoeuvring: Many Ruy Lopez lines lead to slow, strategic battles in closed centres.
Historical Significance
The opening has been a mainstay from the romantic era through modern engine age. World Champions from Steinitz to Carlsen have employed it regularly in title matches.
Illustrative Game
Karpov vs. Kasparov, World Championship (14), Moscow 1985 featured a classic Ruy Lopez where Karpov’s strategic grind almost toppled Kasparov’s defense.
Interesting Facts
- According to MegaBase statistics, more than 150,000 master-level games have begun with the Ruy Lopez.
- Its ECO codes range from C60 to C99, making it the single largest family of openings in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings.
Morphy Defense
Definition
The Morphy Defense is Black’s most popular response to 3.Bb5, characterised by 3…a6. The move immediately questions the bishop, gaining space and asking White to decide whether to exchange on c6 or retreat.
Typical Move Order
White’s main reply is 4.Ba4, keeping tension. After 4…Nf6 5.O-O Be7, the classical “Closed” Ruy Lopez tabiya is reached.
Strategic Ideas
- …a6 prepares …b5, gaining queenside space and pushing the bishop off the a2–g8 diagonal.
- By delaying piece commitment, Black maintains flexible options: open centre with …d5 or adopt solid …d6 setups.
Historical Notes
Named for American legend Paul Morphy, who championed the line in the 1850s. Ironically, Morphy himself preferred 4.Bxc6 over today’s main line 4.Ba4.
Famous Example
Fischer – Spassky, Game 6, Reykjavík 1972 began with the Morphy Defense and is often cited as one of the finest strategic victories in world-championship history.
Closed Variation (of the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
After 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O, the position is known as the Closed Ruy Lopez. White postpones d2-d4, leading to a locked centre where piece manoeuvres dominate.
Main Tabya
The pause at move 9 (usually 9.h3) marks a branching point into several named sub-variations (Zaitsev, Breyer, Chigorin, Yates, etc.).
Strategic Themes
- Manoeuvre wars: Knights dance to d2-f1-g3 or b8-d7-f8-g6, bishops improve, and the tension hangs over the centre.
- Pawn break choices: White prepares d2-d4; Black counters with …d5 or …c5 depending on the line.
- Kingside vs. queenside plans: Opposite-flank pawn storms are rare; instead, tiny positional edges decide games.
Historical Importance
This variation dominated World Championship play in the Karpov–Kasparov era and remains a favourite at elite level thanks to its richness and resilience.
Yates Variation
Definition
The Yates Variation is a branch of the Closed Ruy Lopez that begins with 9…Bb7, named after the British master Frederick D. Yates. The bishop develops actively on the long diagonal, vacating e7 for a rook swing to e8.
Characteristic Move Order
The line often continues 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2, after which Black chooses between …exd4 or …g6.
Strategic Nuances
- The bishop on b7 eyes both the e4-pawn and the g2-square, giving Black latent kingside pressure.
- Black keeps the c-pawn at c7 (unlike Chigorin lines), so the centre remains more stable.
- White’s typical plan is to seize space with a2-a4 and c2-c4, then push d4-d5 at the right moment.
Historical & Modern Use
Yates scored notable victories with this setup in the 1920s; modern adherents include Sergey Karjakin and Ian Nepomniachtchi, who value its solidity.
Illustrative Game
Yates – Bogoljubov, Karlsbad 1923 is the archetype: Yates uncorked 13.Bc2! and won a fine positional game, giving both the variation and his opponent’s name to later sub-lines.
Bogoljubov Variation
Definition
The Bogoljubov Variation is a sub-line of the Chigorin System inside the Closed Ruy Lopez. After 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4, Black chooses 11…Nd7 instead of the more popular 11…Qc7. The move redeploys the f6-knight to b6 or f8 and shores up c5, at the cost of a slight cramp.
Canonical Moves
Typical continuations involve 12.Nbd2 Qc7 13.Nf1 cxd4 14.cxd4.
Strategic Features
- Black aims for …cxd4 followed by …Nc6, placing pieces on solid squares and maintaining a compact pawn chain.
- White enjoys a space advantage and often prepares a kingside attack with Ng3, Be3, and Qd2–h6.
- The position is rich in minor-piece tactics; the a5-knight may jump to c4, pressuring b2 and d2.
Historical Background
Efim Bogoljubov, World Championship challenger in 1929 and 1934, introduced the line to high-level play. Although later overshadowed by 11…Qc7 (Chigorin Main Line), it remains a dangerous surprise weapon.
Memorable Encounter
Aronian vs. Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2006 saw Anand equalise effortlessly with the Bogoljubov and later outplay Aronian in the endgame—proof of the line’s viability even in engine-assisted preparation eras.
Interesting Tidbits
- Engine evaluations often hover around 0.20–0.30 in recent analyses, indicating a healthy yet unbalanced struggle.
- Because it arises only on move 11, many White players are caught out of book, making it a practical choice in over-the-board play.