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C60-C99

Ruy Lopez

235 named lines in this family, ECO C60-C99. Every one of them opens 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed; sixty lines to a page. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

The moves every line here plays

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6

Berlin Defense, Closed Wolf VariationC66

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 exd4

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it. Black heads straight for the famous endgame: queens off early, a broken kingside structure for the bishop pair, and a position where technique outweighs attack.

Berlin Defense, Hedgehog VariationC66

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Berlin Defense, Closed Bernstein VariationC66

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bg5

Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter VariationC66

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6

Black's bishop on d7 is pinned against the king.

Berlin Defense, Tarrasch TrapC66

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 O-O

Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit AcceptedC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4

The structure hands White the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation, through 5... Be7C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7

Berlin Defense, Rosenthal VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 a6

Berlin Defense, l'Hermet VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6

Berlin Defense, Minckwitz VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. dxe5

Open Berlin Defense, Showalter VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Ba4

Bb5 pressures the knight that guards e5; White plays the long game - c3, d4, and the b1-knight's tour to g3 - while Black holds the centre and hits back with ...b5 and ...c5.

Open Berlin Defense, l'Hermet VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5

Berlin Defense, Trifunovic VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 d5

Black's knight on c6 is pinned against the king.

Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation, Westerinen LineC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Ne4

The structure hands Black the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Berlin Defense, Cordel VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5

Black has doubled pawns on the c-file.

Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation, Berlin Wall DefenseC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8

Berlin Defense, Pillsbury VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. b3

Berlin Defense, Winawer AttackC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4

Berlin Defense, Zukertort VariationC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. c4

Berlin Defense, Berlin WallC67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7

Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation, after 6. Qe2C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5

Exchange VariationC68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6

Bxc6 doubles Black's pawns for keeps: White plays for the healthier pawn majority in the endgame; Black's bishops are the compensation.

Exchange Variation, Lutikov VariationC68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 bxc6

The structure hands Black the half-open b-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Exchange Variation, Keres VariationC68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3

The structure hands Black the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Exchange Variation, Romanovsky VariationC68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 f6 6. d3

Exchange Variation, Alekhine VariationC68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd6

Exchange, Alekhine VariationC68

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7

Exchange Variation, Normal VariationC69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O

Exchange Variation, Bronstein VariationC69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Qd6

Exchange Variation, Gligoric VariationC69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6

Exchange Variation, King's Bishop VariationC69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bd6

Exchange Variation, Alapin GambitC69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5

Morphy Defense, through 3... a6C70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6

...a6 puts the question to the bishop at once.

Bird's Defense DeferredC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nd4

Black's pawn on d7 is pinned against the king.

Morphy Defense, Alapin's Defense DeferredC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Bb4

...a6 puts the question to the bishop at once; after Ba4 the main roads of the Lopez open - Black keeps ...b5 in reserve and fights for the centre. White's pawn on d2 is pinned against the king.

Morphy Defense, Caro VariationC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5

Morphy Defense, Classical Defense DeferredC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Bc5

Morphy Defense, Cozio DefenseC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nge7

Morphy Defense, Fianchetto Defense DeferredC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 g6

Morphy Defense, Schliemann Defense DeferredC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5

Morphy Defense, Schliemann Defense Deferred, Jaenisch Gambit DeferredC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5 5. exf5

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Morphy Defense, Graz VariationC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5

Morphy Defense, Norwegian VariationC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5

Morphy Defense, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale GambitC70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. Bxf7+

The structure hands Black the half-open f-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, through 4... d6C71

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. Nc3, through 5. Nc3C71

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Nc3

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. c4, through 5. c4C71

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c4

Noah's Ark Trap, after 4... b5C71

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 d6 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4 c5

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. O-O, through 5. O-OC72

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O

Closed, Kecskemet VariationC72

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4 Be7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Re1 Be8

The classic tabiya: White probes with c3/d4 and the b1-knight's journey; Black keeps the strongpoint on e5 and chooses between ...c5 counterplay and kingside defence.

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. Bxc6+, through 6. d4C73

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. d4

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. Bxc6+, through 6... f6C73

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. d4 f6

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. c3, through 5. c3C74

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Siesta VariationC74

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. c3, through 7. O-OC74

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5 6. exf5 Bxf5 7. O-O

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. c3, through 5... Bd7C75

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, after 5. c3, through 6... Nge7C75

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 Nge7

Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto VariationC76

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 d6 6. d4 Bd7

Morphy Defense, Anderssen VariationC77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3

Morphy Defense, Bayreuth VariationC77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Bxc6

Lines 61–120 of 235 — page 2 of 4.

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