Answers.Body: <p>This opening is called the Ruy Lopez or the Spanish Game.</p>
  
  <p>It is actually quite logical: 2.Nf3 attacks the e5 pawn and Nc6 defends against this attack. Now Bb5 attacks the defender, which renews the attack on e5. For tactical reasons the threat of taking on c6 and then taking on e5 isn't acute yet, but the idea is nonetheless to exert pressure on the black pawn on e5.</p>
  
  <p>Additionally 3.Bb5 makes it possible for white to castle in one of the next moves. This is another motivation for an early kingside development.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-26T11:30:24.580Z
Answers.Text: Ok, I get it! Thamks. But i this scenario, isn't the Bishop in a weack defensive position? I mean, it is very easy to put a threat on the bishop...
Answers.UserDisplayName: J.L
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-26T14:43:56.177Z
Answers.Text: Yes, you are completely right. Very often black plays a6 and after Ba4 he attacks the bishop again with b5. But this kind of queenside extension also creates strategic weaknesses … so all these moves have pros and cons and it is difficult to distill an uncomplicated "truth" about such lines.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-29T16:44:49.713Z
Answers.Text: I would urge you to watch this: http://chessopenings.com/ruy+lopez/.  Really helpful beginner videos on openings
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-01-01T11:57:14.807Z
Answers.Text: Yes, the bishop is easily kicked by ...a6 but think about it this way: white wastes a move by having to move the bishop again but black had to use a move making white do that, so black didn't actually gain anything.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Richerby
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-26T09:50:07.643Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-12-26T09:50:07.643Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Body: <p>In the opening, when the black knight goes to c6 white often responds with bishop to b5. What is the purpose of this move?</p>
  
  <p>For example the Ruy Lopez/Spanish opening:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <opening><beginner><ruy-lopez>
Title: Understanding Bb5 after Nc6 in the opening
ThreadText: # Understanding Bb5 after Nc6 in the opening
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-25)
  
  In the opening, when the black knight goes to c6 white often responds with bishop to b5. What is the purpose of this move?
  For example the Ruy Lopez/Spanish opening:
  [FEN ""]
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
  
  **Tags:** opening, beginner, ruy-lopez
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-12-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  This opening is called the Ruy Lopez or the Spanish Game.
  
  It is actually quite logical: 2.Nf3 attacks the e5 pawn and Nc6 defends against this attack. Now Bb5 attacks the defender, which renews the attack on e5. For tactical reasons the threat of taking on c6 and then taking on e5 isn't acute yet, but the idea is nonetheless to exert pressure on the black pawn on e5.
  
  Additionally 3.Bb5 makes it possible for white to castle in one of the next moves. This is another motivation for an early kingside development.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Ok, I get it! Thamks. But i this scenario, isn't the Bishop in a weack defensive position? I mean, it is very easy to put a threat on the bishop...  
  > **username_1**: Yes, you are completely right. Very often black plays a6 and after Ba4 he attacks the bishop again with b5. But this kind of queenside extension also creates strategic weaknesses … so all these moves have pros and cons and it is difficult to distill an uncomplicated "truth" about such lines.  
  > **username_2**: I would urge you to watch this: http://chessopenings.com/ruy+lopez/.  Really helpful beginner videos on openings  
  > **username_3**: Yes, the bishop is easily kicked by ...a6 but think about it this way: white wastes a move by having to move the bishop again but black had to use a move making white do that, so black didn't actually gain anything.  
  
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