Chess Openings: Ruy Lopez | Ideas, Theory, and Attacking Plans

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In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov teaches you the Ruy Lopez chess opening (also known as the Spanish Game or the Spanish Opening), its opening theory, general ideas, attacking plans, and more. It starts with the opening moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5.

It is one of the most popular chess openings and has been played by all the top players including Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand, Bobby Fischer, etc. It is a classical and powerful chess opening that serves well from beginners to advanced level players. It is evergreen and has never been refuted.

However, a lot of beginner and intermediate level players are intimidated by the seemingly complex nature of this opening. That's why GM Smirnov breaks it down and explains the opening in the simplest way possible, so that you can understand the main concept of the opening instead of just memorizing the moves without understanding the logic behind it.

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► Chapters

00:00 Ruy Lopez Chess Opening Theory
00:44 Basic ideas in Ruy Lopez for White
02:45 Why centralize pieces, control the center?
06:02 Morphy Defense: 3...a6
07:45 Key idea: Typical pawn structure
10:52 2 prophylactic moves: c3 & h3
12:50 Black's mainline: Chigorin variation
14:30 Understand the logic, don't just memorize
14:47 Transitioning to the attack!
17:35 Most common questions from students
19:04 Marshall Attack by Black
20:37 Stats: Black's more wins in Marshall Attack
21:36 Berlin Defense: 3...Nf6
23:05 Does GM Smirnov recommend Berlin Defense?

#IgorNation #RuyLopez #ChessOpenings

[baturkey]

This is the best opening tutorial video I've watched on here. Other videos move too fast so I have to pause and go back a lot but you explained everything clearly step by step

[billdriver]

I started with the Run Lopez over 60yrs ago I learned in a Made Simple book. I won 90%+ of my games because my opponents were just above understanding piece movement. I won. I started to handicap my games by just giving away pieces. When I started many years later playing online in the 90's, I grew to hate the Ruy because I wound up stuck in the middle game. I would be slightly ahead or behind, it was the same little group of attackers/defenders that clogged up the board. I'm saying this before I start this video, if I remember I'll come back to share the difference after studying with the best YT chess instructor.

[alexmatei]

14:50, yes, this is the best way to learn a chess opening and I really appreciate this video a lot, not just random robotic moves, but also the explanation behind the moves. Thank you very much!

[grubygrzib]

I was playing this since I started playing chess, even without knowing any theory, these first three moves seemed the most logical to me. It's insane to now know that there's so much depth into this opening.

[PostTraumaticChessDisorder]

3:54 I'm listening with headphones and that door knock almost made me choke on my donut

[GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters

00:00 Ruy Lopez Chess Opening Theory
00:44 Basic ideas in Ruy Lopez for White
02:45 Why centralize pieces, control the center?
06:02 Morphy Defense: 3...a6
07:45 Key idea: Typical pawn structure
10:52 2 prophylactic moves: c3 & h3
12:50 Black's mainline: Chigorin variation
14:30 Understand the logic, don't just memorize
14:47 Transitioning to the attack!
17:35 Most common questions from students
19:04 Marshall Attack by Black
20:37 Stats: Black's more wins in Marshall Attack
21:36 Berlin Defense: 3...Nf6
23:05 Does GM Smirnov recommend Berlin Defense?

[arkakoukos]

You are incredible, the only one who gave me a deep understanding of every movement of the opening, upload more videos with openings we need it, keep up the amazing work!!!

[josephsalmonte]

I've always stayed away from this opening. Even though I've seen everyone from Magnus to beginners win with it. I'll give it a go thanks. 🙂

[roeydaz]

As a slightly advanced beginner this is the only king side opening I have spent any time studying and learnt about. It’s slight complexity teaches a lot about a chess opening. I use this most of the time.

[shootdasmm]

I gotta say I like the pacing of this video then most of your other tutorials. You did an amazing job of thoroughly explaining the why's, much appreciated!

[lukastux]

Fantastic introduction to the Ruy Lopez! And the editing at 11:10 was brilliant! :D And the most important part: it was not only funny, but educational: WE WILL NOT FORGET THIS now anymore!!!

[fabriziolorito]

The best explanation of the Ruy Lopez I have seen so far!

[WildeWolfe]

I have played 1 game of chess with a human in real life. I got a political set for a gift so I figured I should know how to play. Found you and free kids chess app Your videos help so much. Year's of experience in small doses.
Thank you!!

[RedGhoulAnimation]

A super comprehensive tutorial. I recently started getting into chess, and I’m not very good. I’ve been trying to learn some basic openings and I know the Ruy Lopez is a big one. This video helped me out a lot. Keep up the great work man!

[cwoodside]

This is top level instruction at its finest! THANK YOU GM Smirnov!! I’ve always leaned toward Bc4, by habit since I’m only “rated” 750. I see the advantages from Bb5!

[sv]

This is the best explanation of an opening that I've ever seen

[Bhumanyuhehehe]

When i was about 700 elo I learnt a few and basic lines of ruy lopez and i remember gotham chess made a video about openings that you should never play and the ruy lopez opening was in there because of that whenever I used to play a match with ruy lopez nobody actually knew how to defend against it or what to do as they did not expect me to okay that opening and ruy lopez helped me very much to get to 1200 elo and I still use it

[AllThatsLeft]

Amazing video explaining the ideas why all the moves are played when most creators just read the lines for you.

[CarboAter]

The sleeping cat at the table behind him is so adorable.

[NickLazerko]

Thanks #Igor Smirnov, you are helping me understand chess more in depth and I have been winning many more games than I ever have. I'm learning openings more clearly than before and have been using the skills you've taught me to help build better openings and pawn structures