Why is 3.Bb5 called the Spanish Opening?

It was analysed in 1561 by the Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura; 'Spanish Opening' is the same opening under a different name.

Is the Berlin Defence drawish?

The endgame after 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 is solid but far from a dead draw; both sides have real chances with unbalanced structures.

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Openings · 7 min read

The Ruy Lopez explained: plans, not memorisation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 is the oldest opening still played at the top level. The bishop attacks the knight that defends e5, creating a long-term question Black must answer on almost every move.

The Ruy is a strategic opening: White manoeuvres slowly, builds a big centre with c3 and d4, and reroutes the queen's knight via d2-f1-g3 toward the kingside.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 — The Closed Ruy Lopez. White will follow with Re1, c3 and d4; Black plays ...b5, ...d6 and ...Na5 or ...Nb8-d7.

Black's main defences

Morphy Defence (3...a6): the main line, asking the bishop to commit before Black decides on a setup.
Berlin Defence (3...Nf6): leads to a queenless middlegame that is famously hard to crack.
Open Variation (5...Nxe4): Black grabs the pawn and accepts an unbalanced, tactical fight.
Exchange Variation (4.Bxc6): White doubles Black's pawns and heads for a better endgame.

The plans that repeat every game

White: Re1 to defend e4, c3 to prepare d4, h3 to stop ...Bg4, then Nbd2-f1-g3 aiming at f5. This manoeuvre alone explains most Ruy Lopez middlegames.

Black: ...b5 and ...Na5 to hit the bishop, ...c5 to claim queenside space, and either the ...d5 break or the ...Nd7-f8-g6 regrouping to hold the kingside.

Tactical points worth remembering

3.Bb5 does not win a pawn yet: after 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5, Black plays ...Qd4 or ...Qg5 to regain it.
The Noah's Ark Trap: ...c5, ...c4 and ...b5 can trap the bishop on b3 if White is careless with d4.
Black's ...Bg4 pin is usually met by h3 first; allowing it costs White the d4 break.

Key takeaways

Bb5 creates a permanent question about the defender of e5.
White's core plan is c3, d4 and Nbd2-f1-g3.
Black counters on the queenside with ...b5 and ...c5.

Frequently asked questions

Why is 3.Bb5 called the Spanish Opening?: It was analysed in 1561 by the Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura; 'Spanish Opening' is the same opening under a different name.
Is the Berlin Defence drawish?: The endgame after 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 is solid but far from a dead draw; both sides have real chances with unbalanced structures.