Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation

Before the first move

The Ruy Lopez is one of chess's oldest and most respected openings. In the Yates Variation, you'll see White establish a classical pawn center with d4 and e4, while Black maintains a solid, flexible defensive structure. Both sides fight for control of the center and long-term positional advantages in a complex, maneuvering battle.

1. e4White · your move

Push your king's pawn to e4. This move claims central space, opens lines for your queen and light-squared bishop, and sets the stage for a classical opening battle.

1... e5Black

Black replies with e5, entering the Open Game. This is the most principled response to e4, though you might also encounter the Sicilian Defense with c5, the French Defense with e6, or the Caro-Kann with c6, each leading to very different structures.

Other paths here: f6 (Barnes Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense) · h6 (Carr Defense) · f5 (Duras Gambit)

2. Nf3White · your move

Develop your knight to f3. This is the most natural developing move, attacking the e5 pawn and preparing for kingside castling.

Other paths here: Ke2 (Bongcloud Attack) · d4 (Center Game) · c4 (English Opening: The Whale) · Ne2 (King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening)

2... Nc6Black

Black plays Nc6, the standard way to protect the e5 pawn. If you prefer sharper play, you might look into the Elephant Gambit with d5 or the Petroff Defense by playing Nf6 on the previous move, but Nc6 is the solid foundation of the Ruy Lopez.

Other paths here: d5 (Elephant Gambit) · Qe7 (Gunderam Defense) · Bc5 (King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit) · f6 (King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense)

3. Bb5White · your move

Slide your bishop to b5. This is the defining move of the Ruy Lopez, putting pressure on the knight that defends the e5 pawn.

Other paths here: Nxe5 (Irish Gambit) · g3 (King's Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky) · c4 (King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening) · b4 (King's Pawn Game: Pachman Wing Gambit)

3... a6Black

Black plays a6, the Morphy Defense. This is the most popular way to deal with the bishop. You could also try the Berlin Defense with Nf6 or the Schliemann Gambit with f5, but a6 is the most flexible choice.

Other paths here: Bb4 (Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense) · g5 (Ruy Lopez: Brentano Gambit) · a5 (Ruy Lopez: Bulgarian Variation) · Nge7 (Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense)

4. Ba4White · your move

Retreat your bishop to a4. You maintain the pressure on the c6 knight while keeping your valuable light-squared bishop on the board.

Other paths here: Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation) · Bc4 (Spanish: 3...a6 4.Bc4)

4... Nf6Black

Black plays Nf6, developing another piece and preparing to castle. You have many alternatives here, such as the Bird's Defense with Nd4 or the Classical Defense with Bc5, but the knight move is the main line for a reason.

Other paths here: Nd4 (Ruy Lopez: Bird's Defense Deferred) · Bb4 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Alapin's Defense Deferred) · b5 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Caro Variation) · Bc5 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Classical Defense Deferred)

5. O-OWhite · your move

Castle your king to safety. This move also brings your rook closer to the center, where it will eventually support your central pawns.

Other paths here: d3 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation) · Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Bayreuth Variation) · c3 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit) · d4 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Mackenzie Variation)

5... Be7Black

Black plays Be7, entering the Closed Ruy Lopez. This is a very solid setup. Other options like b5 followed by Bc5 lead to the more tactical Archangel Variation, but the text move is the bedrock of Black's defense.

Other paths here: g6 (Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation) · d5 (Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit) · Bc5 (Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation) · b5 (Spanish: 5.O-O b5)

6. Re1White · your move

Move your rook to e1. This move overprotects the e4 pawn and prepares to maneuver your knight toward the kingside later.

Other paths here: d4 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center Attack) · d3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation) · Nc3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Morphy Attack) · Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Delayed Exchange)

6... b5Black

Black plays b5, forcing the bishop to move. This is a standard expansion in the Ruy Lopez. If you didn't play this, White might eventually squeeze you with a more restrictive setup like the Averbakh Variation.

Other paths here: d6 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation)

7. Bb3White · your move

Retreat your bishop to b3. From this square, the bishop eyes the f7 square and remains a powerful piece for the rest of the game.

7... d6Black

Black plays d6, reinforcing the center. This is the Yates Variation. You could also castle immediately, but d6 is a very solid way to ensure your center doesn't collapse under White's upcoming pressure.

Other paths here: O-O (Ruy Lopez: Closed) · Bb7 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Trajkovic Counterattack)

8. c3White · your move

Move your pawn to c3. This move prepares the d4 push and provides a retreat square for your bishop on c2 if it gets attacked.

Other paths here: d4 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Rosen Attack)

8... O-OBlack

Black castles, completing the initial development. Now the real middlegame struggle begins. You could have also considered moves like Na5 to challenge the b3 bishop or Bg4 to pin the f3 knight.

Other paths here: Bg4 (Spanish: Closed 7...d6 8.c3 Bg4) · Na5 (Spanish: Closed 7...d6 8.c3 Na5)

9. d4White · your move

Push your pawn to d4. You finally establish the classical pawn center you've been preparing. This move challenges Black's e5 pawn and opens the position.

Other paths here: Bc2 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Lutikov Variation) · a3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed, Suetin Variation) · h3 (Ruy Lopez: Closed)

Where you stand

The position is now a classic Closed Ruy Lopez struggle. White has a strong central presence and plans to maneuver the b1 knight to the kingside via d2 and f1. Black remains very solid and will look to counter-attack in the center or on the queenside. Both sides must navigate deep positional themes and tactical nuances in the moves to come.

• b1-g3 Maneuver the knight to the kingside
• c8-g4 Pin the knight to increase central pressure
• b3-c2 Reposition the bishop to support the center
• c6-a5 Challenge the powerful light-squared bishop