Ruy Lopez Opening: Morphy Defense & Gligoric Variation
Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)
Definition
The Ruy Lopez is the chess opening that begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. White develops his king’s knight and bishop rapidly and immediately questions the defender of Black’s e-pawn. It is named after the 16-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, whose 1561 book contained the first systematic analysis of these moves.
Strategic ideas
- Pressure on e5: By attacking the c6-knight, White hopes eventually to remove the sole defender of the e-pawn.
- Long-term spatial clamp: White’s central pawn duo (d2–d4 later) and queenside expansion (c2–c3, d2–d4) often squeeze Black.
- Piece activity over immediate tactics: Most Ruy Lopez lines lead to slow manoeuvring struggles, a favourite of many world champions.
Historical significance
From Steinitz to Carlsen nearly every world champion has relied on the Ruy Lopez as White. Its theory stretches across hundreds of ECO codes (C60–C99) and has shaped modern ideas of time, structure and the bishop pair.
Illustrative miniature
The game fragment above (the viewer can step through it) shows typical queenside expansion and piece manoeuvres in the closed Ruy Lopez.
Interesting facts
- At elite level the Ruy Lopez outnumbers the Italian Game and Scotch combined.
- In the 1978 Karpov–Kortchnoi match, 16 of 32 games began with the Ruy Lopez.
- Its reputation for depth led Bobby Fischer to call it “the Cadillac of openings.”
Morphy Defense
Definition
The Morphy Defense is Black’s most popular answer to 3.Bb5 and arises after 3…a6. By chasing the bishop, Black prevents the pin …Bb5 (if the bishop retreats) or forces an exchange that yields the bishop pair at the cost of a structural weakness.
Plans for both sides
- Black: Gain the two bishops, free the c8-bishop with …e5–e4 or …d7–d5, and eventually strike in the centre or on the kingside.
- White: Exploit the doubled c-pawns if 4.Bxc6 dxc6, or maintain tension via 4.Ba4 and castle quickly.
Why “Morphy”?
Paul Morphy (1837-1884) used 3…a6 to brilliant effect in his 1858 matches versus Adolf Anderssen and the Duke-Count consultation. His idea of immediately questioning the bishop became the modern benchmark for dynamic equality against the Ruy Lopez.
Key branch diagram
After eight moves both players have developed sensibly; the battle over the centre is about to begin.
Anecdote
Morphy’s famous “Opera Game” actually featured the Philidor Defense, yet chess writers attached his name to 3…a6 because of the systematic way he dismantled the Spanish bishop in other games of the same Paris trip.
Exchange Variation (of the Ruy Lopez)
Definition
After 3…a6, White can simplify immediately with 4.Bxc6 dxc6, giving Black doubled c-pawns and the bishop pair. This line is called the Exchange Variation. It first gained prominence when Emanuel Lasker used it as a drawing weapon versus Steinitz in the 1894 World Championship.
Structural themes
- Isolated doubled c-pawns vs. bishop pair: Black’s pawn structure is compromised, but open lines favour the bishops.
- Simplified piece play: Many heavy-piece endgames arise quickly, suiting players who relish technical endings.
- An early queen swap (Qxd8) is often forced after 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4.
Typical starting moves
The diagram shows one modern tabiya: 5.O-O f6 (Gligoric’s move), after which White chooses between calm central play or the sharper 6.d4.
Historical nuggets
- Lasker–Steinitz 1894, Game 7: Lasker’s 4.Bxc6 led to a superior knight vs. bishop ending and a critical win on his path to the title.
- Fischer’s secret weapon: In My 60 Memorable Games, Fischer admits the Exchange was part of his “anti-Petrosian” preparation for 1971 but he never got to use it.
Gligoric Variation (C69)
Definition
The Gligoric Variation is a branch of the Ruy Lopez Exchange that begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O f6 (ECO C69). The move 5…f6, championed by Serbian grandmaster Svetozar Gligorić in the 1950s-60s, guards the e5-pawn, restrains Ng5 ideas, and prepares …c5 or …Bg4.
Strategic essence
- Extra central grip: …f6 buttresses e5 so that Black may later play …c5, gaining queenside space without worrying about e5 collapsing.
- King-side safety vs. dark-square weaknesses: The f-pawn advance slightly weakens e6–g7 squares; White often reroutes a knight via f1–e3–f5 to exploit them.
- Endgame ambitions: Gligorić demonstrated many endings where his bishops outweighed the doubled pawns once the centre stayed closed.
Model game
S. Gligorić – A. Borislav, Yugoslavia 1953. Gligorić marshalled his bishops and rooks into an endgame where Black’s pawn defects told.
Interesting facts
- Many modern engines initially dislike 5…f6 but later reassess it favourably after deep calculation, mirroring human experience.
- Svetozar Gligorić used the line six times in the 1959 Candidates’ Tournament, scoring +4 =2 -0 with Black!
- Because it sidesteps the heavily analysed 5…Bg4 lines, the Gligoric remains a practical surprise weapon today.