Ruy Lopez Exchange

Play as WhiteClassical

White doubles Black's pawns and heads for a simple, favourable endgame.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8. Nb3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bg4

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... e5 — Black claims the center too.
3. 2. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
4. 2... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
5. 3. Bb5 — Brings the bishop into the game.
6. 3... a6 — Ask the bishop what it wants to do.
7. 4. Bxc6 — Takes the knight on c6.
8. 4... dxc6 — Takes the bishop on c6.
9. 5. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
10. 5... f6 — Defend the e5 pawn and keep the pawn chain.
11. 6. d4 — Open the center. White is playing for a good endgame.
12. 6... exd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
13. 7. Nxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
14. 7... c5 — Hit the knight on d4.
15. 8. Nb3 — Keep the knight safe and head for the endgame.
16. 8... Qxd1 — Takes the queen on d1.
17. 9. Rxd1 — Takes the queen on d1.
18. 9... Bg4 — Brings the bishop into the game.

Related openings

• Italian Game
• Ruy Lopez (Spanish)
• Scotch Game
• Four Knights Game
• Vienna Game

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