Ruy Lopez Chess Opening Explained in 10 Minutes [TRAPS Included]

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All the world chess champions had one thing in common; they all played the Ruy Lopez chess opening (also known as the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game). It occurs after the opening moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. It is one of the most popular chess openings.

In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov teaches you how to play the Ruy Lopez as White and the best ways to counter Black in different variations, including the Morphy Defense, Steinitz Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Bird Variation, and more.

You will learn the aggressive variations for White that are filled with nasty traps.

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► Chapters

00:00 Ruy Lopez Chess Opening for White
01:04 1) If Black plays 6...Bg4
02:40 2) If Black plays 6...Nf6
03:26 Fried Liver Attack in Ruy Lopez?
04:20 3) 3...d6, Steinitz Defense
05:59 4) 3...Nd4, Bird Variation
07:57 5) Morphy Defense, Mackenzie Variation
11:11 6) Black's best response (for advanced players)
13:12 Quiz: Puzzle of the day

#IgorNation #ChessOpenings #RuyLopez #ChessTraps #OpeningTraps

[samadithvimanshaka]

For the puzzle, I think it's a queen sac. Qxh7 after Kxh7, Rh5 is checkmate.

[pat]

13:19 To complete White’s attack, you sacrifice your queen by capturing the pawn on h7. Then, after the king takes your queen, you deliver a beautiful checkmate—known as Anastasia’s Mate—by swinging your rook over to h5.

[GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters

00:00 Ruy Lopez Chess Opening for White
01:04 1) If Black plays 6...Bg4
02:40 2) If Black plays 6...Nf6
03:26 Fried Liver Attack in Ruy Lopez?
04:20 3) 3...d6, Steinitz Defense
05:59 4) 3...Nd4, Bird Variation
07:57 5) Morphy Defense, Mackenzie Variation
11:11 6) Black's best response (for advanced players)
13:12 Quiz: Puzzle of the day

[contextinvideos]

just recently got into chess, and for some reason the ruy lopez opening infuriates me to my core every time i see that bishop threaten my knight. it feels like i play the exact same opening every single bullet game and its gotten me so desensitized to other openings that if my enemy plays something else my brain malfunctions for a good 5 seconds. i have even started premoving the entire ruy lopez opening up to taking the bishop when they take my knight
400 elo rating just to clarify

[ukervwc]

awesome video, there's a lot to digest but it looks fun

[DavidEmerling]

At 8:16, when white plays 5.d4 for this "more aggressive approach, " it is *white* who can stumble into a trap after 5...exd4, 6.Nxd4?. This is the famous Noah's Ark Trap. 6...Nxd4 Qxd4, 7.c5 Q-moves, 8. c4 and white's bishop is trapped. It's worth mentioning that *white* can also stumble in the early stages of the Ruy Lopez.

[breakermike]

I'm always amazed when I'm trying to practice an opening That absolutely nothing that was explained to me ever comes into play ever

[jasonuerkvitz]

Anastasia's mate. Qxh7+, Kxh7, Rh5#
Thanks for this lesson, Coach. This makes this game a bit more clear between Morphy and Andersen I was looking at recently:


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 Nxd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 c6 7. O-O cxb5 8.
Bg5 Be7 9. exf6 Bxf6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Re1+ Kf8 12. c3 d5 13.
cxd4 Be6 14. Nc3 a6 15. Re5 Rd8 16. Qb3 Qe7 17. Rae1 g5 18. R1e3 Rg8 19. Qd1 Qf6
20. Rxe6 *

[itsiqbalgaming]

A variety of fun ideas covered in this video. Thank you for an entertaining video Igor!

[somakarpati]

You could do a dutch defense video, its relatively rare and unique so most opponents would be unprepared

[twentyrothmans]

Qxh7+ Kxh7
Rh5 ++
Thank you, as always, Igor!

[ankitjain-borh]

1.Qxh7+ Kxh7 (forced move). 2.Rh5# ( Knight covers escape on g6 or g8, and nothing can stop the rook or block the check.

[LeviSiccard]

The puzzle is basically Anastasia's checkmate. Very nice variation! Thanks Igor! for expanding my Ruy Lopez repertoire and making it a real torture!🙂

[HonestMan]

Can someone wish me a happy birthday? Today is my special day, but the loneliness is overwhelming. There's no one to share this day with, no one to surprise me with a cake. A deep sadness has settled in my heart. I'm not sure why I'm writing this here, maybe just to share my feelings and find a bit of comfort, as they say talking about our troubles can help.

[robertfakename]

Thanks for leaving a puzzle for us at the end. A nice one too.

[akashnarayanraozol]

13:12 1. Qxh7+ Kxh7 is forced then Rh5#

[Gongo]

Great video!
At 08:18 you previously recommended Qe2, the Wormald attack, but in this video you mention d4, the Mackenzie variation. Which of these lines do you recommend to your viewers?

[gm]

1.Qxh7+ kxh7 (only move). 2.Rh5# ( the knight prevents escape on g6 or g8, the king is to far from the rook to take and nothing can take the rook or block the check.

[neoetude]

Thank you for this great video! This is really helpful! :D

[peterbago]

You say some funny stuff, but usually not in the first ten seconds. So I vote this the best intro you have done in these videos. 😅