Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 Be7 7.Re1 b5 8.Bb3 d5 9.dxe5 Be6 10.c3

ECO C83

The Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line is a chess opening line in the Ruy Lopez complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 Be7 7.Re1 b5 8.Bb3 d5 9.dxe5 Be6 10.c3.

It is catalogued under code C83 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move c3 is chosen by White on move 10.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Marshall Attack course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.