Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense
ECO C78 · Ruy Lopez · solid · intermediate
The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (C78) is a solid chess opening in the Ruy Lopez family, played by Black. It arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6. The most popular response. Allows a6 and b5. Recommended for intermediate players.
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6
About this opening
The Morphy Defense (3...a6) is the main reply to the Ruy Lopez: by chasing the b5 bishop, Black forces it to choose between 4.Ba4, keeping the pin, and the Exchange Variation 4.Bxc6. It is the starting point of the great closed lines, where Black deploys ...Nf6, ...Be7, ...b5 and ...d6. Named after Paul Morphy, it shapes most of the modern theory of the Spanish.