Introduction to the Spanish Opening (Ruy Lopez) · Complete Chess Openings

Описание: Introduction to the Spanish Opening that covers theory, strategy and resources.
Practice the Spanish repertoire for black: https://go.noctie.ai/ruy-lopez-black
Download both annotated repertoires:   / spanish-opening-150080716  
Practice the Spanish repertoire for white: https://go.noctie.ai/ruy-lopez-white
Books on the Spanish: https://chessreads.com/spanish-opening
Best book for black: https://chessreads.com/review/a-spani...
Best book for white: https://chessreads.com/review/ruy-lop...
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The Spanish was first mentioned by Lucena, the famous Spanish chess player in 1497, who introduced the rook endgame with the pawn on the 7th and studied and wrote about many other positions relevant today. The first proper analysis of the opening was done by Ruy de Segura Lopez in 1561, hence the name for the opening in the western world today. In Europe, it's called the Spanish.

Playing e5 against e4 is considered to be the safest approach. As opposed to the modern defenses, such as c6, e6, or g6, which aim to prepare a central thrust, by playing e5, black is preventing white from playing d4 easily by force.
There are alternatives for white, of course. The King's Gambit, the Vienna, and other minor openings were never as popular as Nf3. This calm move does two things - it puts pressure on e5, and it develops white's kingside quickly, preparing to castle and bring the rook to e1. Black has two main alternatives to the main move, Nc6, the Philidor (d6), and Nf6, the Petrov. Nc6 defends the e5-pawn without blocking in the f8-bishop and it's the most logical move. The Petrov counterattacks on e4, and the Philidor defends e5 but hinders black's kingside development.
Bb5 is the beginning of the Spanish. A simple move that aims to undefend the e5 pawn. Since the knight is the only defender for now, by playing Bb5, white is increasing the pressure on e5.
a6 is black's most popular move. The idea behind it is simple. Black is trying to force white to decide where the bishop is going to go. Black is using a tactical idea that makes the e5-pawn immune for the moment. White cannot simply take on c6 and take on e5.
There are numerous alternatives to a6, such as the Berlin Defense.

The Ruy Lopez is not an opening. It's around 30 different openings that can happen after White plays Bb5. Some are played by white, some by black. The five major, most important opening systems within the Spanish are the Closed Spanish, Open Spanish, Berlin Defense, Marshall Attack, and the Exchange Variation.

0:00 Introduction
00:46 Resources on the Spanish (Ruy Lopez)
04:36 Books on the Spanish (for black and white)
09:24 History of Spanish
15:38 Basics and first moves of the Spanish
21:07 5 Major Opening Systems within the Spanish
35:41 Sidelines and Deviations for both sides
45:03 Strategy and structures in the Ruy Lopez
55:30 Conclusion

This will be the first of 34 videos in the Spanish series. Unlike my previous Ruy Lopez series, this one is more detailed, better structured, and it covers every variation playable by both sides.