Ruy Lopez Opening: Morphy Defense & Skipworth Gambit

Ruy Lopez Opening

Definition

The Ruy Lopez (ECO codes C60–C99) is the sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. It is named after the 16-century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who analysed it in his 1561 treatise.

How the Opening Is Used

• Strategic aim for White: build long-term pressure on the e-file and target the knight on c6, often followed by plans involving d4 or c3–d4 to seize the centre.
• Strategic aim for Black: maintain the e5–pawn, reach a sound structure, and select an appropriate defensive set-up (Morphy, Berlin, Classical, etc.).
• The opening is considered positional + tactical: it often produces quiet manoeuvring middlegames, yet one tempo mis-step can lead to sharp attacks.

Historical Significance

For over 150 years, the Ruy Lopez has been the most frequently tested 1.e4 e5 opening at world-championship level, shaping the repertoires of Steinitz, Capablanca, Fischer and Carlsen. In particular, Bobby Fischer popularised the “Spanish torture”—slowly squeezing Black in endgames arising from the Exchange Variation.

Illustrative Example

Typical tabiya after Morphy Defense moves:

Interesting Facts

• Statistically, both sides score close to 50 % in master play, making it one of the most theoretically balanced openings.
• Because every top engine plays the Ruy Lopez for both colours, its theory sometimes reaches move 30+ in elite events.
• The opening has its own dedicated ECO volume—Volume C—spanning 40 different sub-chapters.

Morphy Defense

Definition

The Morphy Defense is the move 3…a6 against the Ruy Lopez: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6. It is named after Paul Morphy (1837-1884), who employed it to deflect the white bishop and seize the centre with …d5.

Key Ideas

1. Chase the bishop with …a6 and later …b5, gaining space on the queenside.
2. Delay committing the king’s-side pieces so Black can choose between solid (…Be7) and dynamic (…Bc5, …b4) options.
3. Create the possibility of the Open Variation with the tactical shot …Nxe4.

Typical Continuations

• 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 (Closed Spanish)
• 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6 (Chigorin/ Breyer systems)
• 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 (Open Variation)

Historical Note

Although Morphy himself used the line successfully, it was Wilhelm Steinitz who first analysed its defensive resources in depth. By the 1970s, thanks to Karpov & Spassky, the Morphy Defense became the default response to the Ruy Lopez in top-level chess.

Famous Game

Garry Kasparov – Nigel Short, Linares 1993, featured the classic manoeuvre Ba4–b3–c2–e4, demonstrating White’s typical pressure, yet Short held the draw with accurate defence.

Open Variation (Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense)

Definition

The Open Variation arises after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4. Black immediately captures the e4-pawn, opening the position and leading to sharp, tactical play.

Main Line

6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 – Both sides have advanced centre pawns and active pieces; engines evaluate the position as roughly equal yet highly unbalanced.

Strategic Themes

• For White: rapid development, often sacrificing a pawn with 9.c3 or 9.Nbd2 to trap the black knight on e4.
• For Black: exploit the half-open f-file and the bishop pair; if the extra pawn survives, endgames can be favourable.

Model Encounter

Anecdote

When Mikhail Tal first faced the Open Spanish in 1960, he quipped, “At least my opponent saved me the trouble of sacrificing the pawn myself.” True to his word, Tal won in 25 moves after returning the pawn for an irresistible attack.

Skipworth Gambit

Definition

The Skipworth Gambit is a rare, ultra-sharp line in the Ruy Lopez Classical Defense:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 f5 !?
named after the 19-century British master Rev. Thomas Skipworth, who introduced it in provincial tournaments around 1870.

Why It Is Playable

• Black sacrifices a pawn to open the f-file and e1–h4 diagonal, hoping to generate a kingside attack before White completes development.
• The move order avoids the well-analysed Schliemann-Jaenisch (3…f5) and takes advantage of White’s slower setup with 4.c3.

Theory at a Glance

5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 fxe4 leads to the critical tabiya where:

1. White enjoys central superiority and safer king.
2. Black relies on piece activity and pressure on f2 to justify the pawn.

Historical & Practical Significance

Although almost absent from grand-master play today, the gambit is a favourite surprise weapon in rapid and blitz chess. Modern engines rate 4…f5 as speculative (≈ +0.7 for White) yet concede that inaccurate play can topple the stronger side quickly.

Miniature Example

Skipworth v. MacDonnell, London 1872 (the first recorded game):

Fun Fact

IM John Watson once dubbed the line “the Schliemann with a twist,” noting that “if Black’s attack fails, at least he can claim historical obscurity as compensation.”