Christer Sundqvist: New Concepts in the Spanish Opening or Ruy Lopez
This provides an overview of a comprehensive analysis package that includes the Spanish Opening. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this ever-changing chess opening.
With a small investment from you, I can deliver the entire package (49 PGN files!) to your email address. The primary goal of my simple blog and my work with chess databases is to raise awareness that playing a lot of draws will not end over-the-board or correspondence chess. The complete opposite is true. A high number of draws in a given opening indicates that the theoretical soundness of the opening has been clarified, and a small portion of the chess problem has been solved. In some situations, I believe chess is a draw. In other openings, I'm unsure, which is fascinating. Ruy Lopez contains some chess opening lines that have been thoroughly analyzed, and playing them out will result in another beautiful draw. I like draws!
I am only doing this for fun, not for money. Should you accept my offer, you will discover that I provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I handle my financial needs through PayPal, MobilePay, and traditional IBAN bank transfers. Please let me know how you would like to receive the chess opening package. My email address is: turpaduunari@outlook.com. Chess players who have purchased my chess databases have typically paid between 30-150 euros per database.
If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am open to alternative solutions (exchanging valuable ideas or other forms of collaboration).
I have used these resources:
- Todd Bardwick. Chess Openings: An Overview of Standard Variations. Chess Detective, 2022
- Batsford's Modern Chess Openings (15th edition) = MCO
- Graham Burgess. The Mammoth Book of Chess. Robinson, 2022
- Fabiano Caruana. Caruana’s Ruy Lopez: A White Repertoire for Club Players. New In Chess, 2021
- Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD
- Chess Informant
- Chessbase software
- James Eade, Carsten Hansen. Chess Openings For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, 2026
- ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2026
- Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)
- Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)
- Stockfish 18 chess engine
- Sundqvist, Christer. Ruy Lopex played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2026
- The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2026.
This is a massive chess opening, and I intend to expand it significantly in the future. Updates are likely to focus on the most recent ideas in this opening. Right now, the distributable chess opening package contains these richly commented and analyzed PGN files:
1. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5
2. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Be7
3. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4
4. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 other
5. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3
6. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Ba4
7. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6
8. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nbd2
9. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3
10. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.other
11. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6
12. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 other
13. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.other
14. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7
15. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6
16. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 other
17. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.other
18. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 other
19. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.other
20. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3
21. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 other
22. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 other
23. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3
24. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6
25. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4
26. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0
27. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 Na5
28. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.other
29. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4
30. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4
31. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 other
32. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5
33. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7
34. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 other
35. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Nc3
36. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3
37. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.other
38. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5
39. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6
40. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 other
41. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.other
42. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6
43. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5
44. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6
45. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 other
46. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.other
47. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.d4
48. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5
49. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.other
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
The Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is one of the oldest openings, dating back to the 15th century. It is now one of the most popular and heavily analyzed openings. It is named after Ruy López de Segura, a 16th-century Spanish priest who conducted a thorough study of it in his 1561 book, Libro del Ajedrez. Many of the main variations are lengthy and complex because the opening has evolved and been studied for over five centuries. White's third move develops the bishop and prepares to castle, while attacking the knight on c6, which protects the e5-pawn. Black's typical response is 3...a6, with the intention of playing …b5 after the bishop retreats to a4. After 3…a6, White can choose between the Exchange Variation (4.Bxc6) and the Main Line (4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0). Black can also play the Berlin Defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6.
3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0
This is the Main Line.
5...Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
This is one of the most theoretically studied opening positions in chess. Black can play 7…d6 for the Closed Variations or 7…0-0 for the Marshall Attack.
7...0–0 8.c3
White's move c2-c3 is a common one, and it is a simple choice to help White exploit the board center.
8...d5
This is the start of the dreaded Marshall Attack. U.S. Chess Champion Frank Marshall introduced this aggressive chess opening line against Jose Raoul Capablanca in 1918, in which Black sacrifices a pawn to attack White's king. If White does not take the pawn, Black has freed his position and gained central control.
9.exd5
The first official World Chess Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900), once said, "The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it!" This obviously does not always apply, but in most cases, it is a useful rule of thumb that has been repeated so many times that it is boring. In the case of the Marshall Attack, most lines have already been thoroughly analyzed, and numerous draws have taken place. However, the analysis lines contain more venom than is obvious.
9...Nxd5
We are following the main line, with almost no other moves visible. Black has a dubious alternative, 9...e4, known as the Steiner Variation, but it is not seen in Master games.
10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5
Black's compensation is based on the fact that White's kingside suddenly lacks defenders. By attacking the rook on e5, Black gains tempo and develops quickly.
11...c6!
This move is now accepted as the main line, but in the stem game, Marshall played 11...Nf6 against Capablanca in 1918. Also, 11... Bb7 is an option that is used to challenge White players to think for themselves rather than repeat memorized opening lines.Black will put everything into a massive kingside attack, which has been thoroughly analysed but yielded no clear conclusion.
11...Bb7
12.d4 Bf6 13.Re1 Re8 14.Bd2 a5 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Qg4 b4 17.a3 a4
I believe Carlsen is going too far with this move. 18.Bxd5. (White is better) 18...Bxd5 19.axb4 h5 20.Qd1 h4 21.h3 (A very simple defensive move!) 21. Qc6 22. f3 Bb3 23. Qf1 Bc4 24. Qf2 Re8 25. Be3 Bd3 (White is much better): 1-0 (35) Caruana, F. (2789) - Carlsen, M. (2839) chess.com INT 2025
12.d4
12.d3 (A positional try, 12.d3, returns the gambit pawn to Black in exchange for some positional concessions.) 12...Bd6 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 Bxd3 17. Nd2.
We are at a crossroads. Black can either play 17...Bf5, renewing the gambit, or 17...Qf5, which invites an endgame. 17... Qf5 (17... Bf5) 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19. Qxd5 Rfd8 20. Qf3 Bg4 21. Qg2 Qxg2+ 22.Kxg2 b4 23.Nc4 bxc3 24.bxc3 Bc7 25.a4 Rab8 ½-½ (25) Fremmegård, J (2416) - Fischer, W (2404) ICCF 2024) 18. Bd4 Rae8 19.a4h6 20.axb 5. axb5 21. Qxf5 Bxf5 22. f3 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Nf6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Ne4 Be7 26.g4 ½-½ (26) Böhnke, H (2364) - Woznica, M. (2368) ICCF 2025.
12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4
White must weaken the kingside now that there is no defensive knight on f3.
14.g3 Qh3
Black has serious counterplay. There are two ideas:...Bg4 and...Rae8, which attack with tempo. Black is thought to have excellent theoretical chances as well as numerous attacking opportunities. These days, players don't want their king to be attacked.
15.Qf3
15.Re4
Recently, Erigaisi played like this against Nepomniachtchi: 15...g5 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Bh3 18.Qe2 Qg6 19. Nf3 f6 20. Bd2 Bf5 21. Re6?! Rae8 22.Re3 Kg7. 23.Bxd5 cxd5. 24.a4? (24.Ne1) 24...Bg4 (24...Rxe3!) 25.fxe3 Qh5 26.Rf1 Be4 27.axb5 axb5 (Black is clearly superior). 25.axb5 Rxe3 26.fxe3 Qe4 (Black is still better); 0-1 (60) Erigaisi, A (2801) - Nepomniachtchi, I. (2754) chess.com INT 2025; 15.Be3 (Ivanchuk tried this in Soure, Portugal) 15...Ra7 16. Nd2 Re7 17. Bg5 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1
White is slightly better 18...h6 19.Be3 Re8, 20.a4 Qf5. 21.Qe2 b4 22.cxb4 Nxb4 23.Rc1 Qg6 24.Nc4 Bc7 25.Ne5 Bxe5 26.dxe5 Nd3 (Despite White's slight advantage, Ivanchuk lost this game.) 27.RC3 Nxe5 0-1 (36) Ivanchuk, V (2641) - Quesada Perez, L (2543) Soure POR 2025.
15...Bg4 16.Qg2 Qh5 17.Be3 a5
17...Bf3 18.Qf1 f5 19.Nd2 f4 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Nxf3 Rxf3 22.Bd1
White is able to ride out the storm successfully 22...Raf8 23.Bxf3 Qxf3 24.Qe2 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 Nb6 1-0 (79). Sarkar, J (2348)—Kistrup, N (2342) Stavanger NOR 2022
18.Nd2 a4 19.Bxd5 cxd5 20.Bf4 Bh3 21.Qf3 Qxf3 22.Nxf3 Bxf4 23.gxf4 Ra6
23...a3 24.b4 Ra6 25.Ne5 Rc8 1–0 (50) Villanueva,M (2481)-Pichot,A (2564) Villa Martelli 2018
24.Ne5 a3 25.bxa3 Bf5 26.Re3 Re8 ½–½ (34) Quevedo García,V (2436)-Pinos Rubio,R (2409) ICCF 2026
