Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense Variation


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This lesson will give you initial knowledge on the Berlin Defense variation of the Ruy Lopes chess opening, and it is designed for beginners. To learn the Berlin Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez, please read its description in Part I (just below) and see video about the Berlin Defense in Part II on this page below.

I. Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense: Description


The Berlin Defense variation moves of the Ruy Lopez are the following:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6.

Berlin Defense variation of Ruy Lopez

By statistics, the Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense variation is 10-15% of all Ruy Lopez games. Under correct play, this variation is considered as solid variation for Black with a big chance to draw a game.

After 3... Nf6, the strongest White answer is 4.0-0. Other White answering moves, not bad but less common, are: 4.d3, 4.Nc3, 4.Qe2, and 4.Bxc6. The main play line is 4.0-0 Nxe4. Less common lines are: 4.d3 d6; 4.Nc3 Bb4; 4.Qe2 Bc5; and 4.Bxc6 dxc6.

This variation of the Ruy Lopez is sometimes called "the Berlin Wall", and it is quite popular at the chess master level and the top level of chess. To get a feel of correctly playing the Berlin Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez, you are advised to see the below video.

II. Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense: Video


This video runs for 2 minutes 36 seconds and consists of 3 parts. Part 1 is Introduction to the Berlin Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez, Part 2 will show you how to play its 2 proven lines (best proven moves for White and Black), and Part 3 will show you possibilities at beginning. To see the video, click the Play button below:




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• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have studied the Berlin Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening. The variation starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6, and it covers 10-15% of all Ruy Lopez games...

Ruy Lopez Morphy Defense Variation


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[: Chess Openings - See All Lessons]

[•: To the Main Page of Ruy Lopez]

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This lesson will give you initial knowledge on the Ruy Lopes chess opening, its Morphy Defense variation, and it is designed for chess beginners. To learn the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez, please read its description in Part I just below and see video on this variation in Part II at the bottom of this page.

I. Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense: Description


The following is the designated moves of the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening (see below the moves and the picture):
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6

Morphy Defense variation of Ruy Lopez

By statistics, 70 % of the Ruy Lopez games start as the Morphy Defense variation. This variation is considered to be one of the best for Black in the Ruy Lopez chess opening. After 4... Nf6, White is to answer by making any of the following 6 moves: • 5.0-0; • 5.d3; • 5.Qe2; • 5.d4; • 5.Nc3; • 5.Bxc6. At a later stage, the typical moves of the Morphy Defense variation for White are: Bb3 (retreating from a4), Nbd2, d3.

For Black, those moves are the following: b5, Be7, Na5, d6. White and Black usually conduct the short castling between the 5th - 11th moves from beginning a Ruy Lopez chess game... It is better for you to understand it in a visible way by seeing the video on the Ruy Lopez Morphy Defense Variation below.

II. Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense: Video


Below is video "Ruy Lopez Morphy Defense Variation" which runs for 3 minutes 36 seconds. The video consists of the following 2 parts. Part 1 is Introduction, and Part 2 will show how to play 6 proven lines of the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez. To see the video, click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To return to the main page of the Ruy Lopez, click the following link:

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On this page, you have learned the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening ...