Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 · C68–C69
Part of Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 17
It is a structure bet, not a tactical one
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
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- 9.
The idea
White gives up the bishop immediately for the knight, saddling Black with doubled c-pawns and a long, uncomfortable endgame.
Main line: 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
What White wants
- Trade into an endgame where Black's doubled c-pawns are a real weakness
- Play against the pawn on c6 and the resulting holes on d5 and c5
- Keep rooks on and use the open d-file
What Black wants
- Use the bishop pair and the half-open d-file to stay active
- Push ...f6 and ...c5 to blunt White's centre before the endgame arrives
- Aim for ...Bd6, ...Ne7 and ...Be6 rather than a passive defence
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
It is a structure bet, not a tactical one
White concedes the bishop pair on move four to buy a permanently better pawn structure. The position is close to equal for thirty moves — the whole point is that Black has to defend accurately for all of them.
Common mistake
Assuming doubled pawns make the endgame automatically winning. Black still has two bishops and active chances, so White must coordinate the kingside majority and prevent counterplay rather than trade pieces without checking the resulting position.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1b1kbnr/1pp3pp/p4p2/2p5/4P3/1N6/PPP2PPP/RNBR2K1 b kq - 0 9
Analyze this position