Ruy Lopez facts for kids
The Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Opening, is a very old and popular way to start a chess game. It's named after a Spanish priest named Ruy Lopez de Segura, who wrote about it a long time ago. This opening is one of the most common choices for chess players around the world.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |
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8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
How to Start the Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez opening begins with these specific moves:
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bb5
After these moves, White's bishop moves to b5. This move attacks Black's knight on c6. This knight helps protect Black's pawn on e5.
Why Players Use the Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez is a very popular opening because it gives White many different ways to play. It has been a favorite in games played by expert chess players for a long time.
One interesting thing about this opening is that White's third move (Bb5) does not immediately attack Black's pawn on e5. If White tried to win the pawn too quickly, Black could get it back. For example:
- 3.... a6
- 4.Bxc6 dxc6
- 5.Nxe5 Qd4
In this example, Black's queen moves to d4 and attacks White's knight on e5, getting the pawn back.
Because of this, White usually plays for a longer-term plan. White often starts by moving the bishop back after Black's move:
- 3.... a6
- 4.Ba4
This move keeps the pressure on Black and helps White develop their pieces for the rest of the game.
Chess Opening Codes
The Ruy Lopez is part of a system called the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, or ECO. The codes for the Ruy Lopez are C60–C99. This system helps chess players organize and study different openings.
See also
In Spanish: Apertura española para niños
