Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation
White gives up the bishop pair to change Black's pawn structure. Doubled pawns are a long-term consideration, but Black receives open lines and active bishops; do not judge the trade by pawn shape alone.
Your plan as White
Use Bb5 to pressure the knight defending e5. Maintain central tension and prepare a well-supported d4.
The opponent’s plan
Defend the center while developing. After ...a6 and Ba4, calculate exchanges before pushing queenside pawns.
Watch out: Bxc6 does not automatically win e5: queen checks and central recaptures can recover the pawn.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
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Name, background and sources
Ruy López de Segura discussed this opening in his 1561 book. It later became a major part of nineteenth-century master practice.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.