Answers.Body: <p>There is a more subtle issue here. Why is <code>3.Bb5</code> more popular / better / more interesting than the Italian game <code>3.Bc4</code>?</p>
  
  <p>In the Ruy Lopez, white isn't really going to win the <code>e5</code> pawn, and the bishop is anyway going to be kicked back to the <code>b3-f7</code> diagonal giving black the free moves <code>a6</code> and <code>b5</code>, so why not play <code>Bc4</code> in the first place?</p>
  
  <p>The answer is that the bishop is tactically more vulnerable on <code>c4</code>, often making an equalizing move sequence <code>Nxe4</code> followed by <code>d5</code> feasible for black. In fact, due to this important difference, in the Ruy Lopez white always has time to build an ideal pawn centre with <code>c3</code> and <code>d4</code>, while in the Italian game this is more likely to lead to equality. So in the Italian game, white often has to be content with placing the d-pawn on <code>d3</code>.</p>
  
  <p>More mysteriously, Carlsen has recently started to play the move <code>d3</code> in standard Ruy Lopez lines. You have to ask a 2700+ player to explain that one :)</p>
  
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Answers.Text: Carlsen is showing that white does not need to rush in playing d4, but can wait till an opportune moment. White can take time to complete his development without allowing black counterplay on the e4 pawn.
Answers.UserDisplayName: newshutz
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Answers.Text: And, also, Black loses as much time kicking the bishop from b5 as White loses getting it kicked.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Richerby
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Answers.Body: <p>The Ruy Lopez is a "basic" opening. It was among the first to be invented and "standardized," first by Sr. Lopez himself, then by Morphy, Steinitz, Alekhine, and others, who discovered variations.</p>
  
  <p>It involves both sides moving out their e pawns, then knights, in accordance with opening principles. Then white attacks Black's c knight with his bishop, Black parries with <code>...a6</code>, etc., and the battle is on in a natural flow.</p>
  
  <p>Of course, you can use other openings involving other center pawns (e.g. the d pawns), other knights (White plays <code>2. Nc3</code>, or Black plays <code>2... Nf6</code>), but those are actually more complicated than the Ruy.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Tom Au
Answers.Body: <p>The very first time I played chess, I didn't know any openings and chose the Ruy Lopez due to mental intimidation then later found out its name and I play the scotch more often.  It doubles up the pawns and removes the defender of the e pawn plus developing so it's very logical.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Evin Switzer
Answers.Body: <p>The Ruy Lopez is pretty much the epitome of opening principles.  White opens with the king pawn to claim the center, and black counters in the same way.  Then white develops a knight (knights before bishops!) to attack black's pawn.  Black defends the pawn with a knight.  Finally, white develops a bishop to b5 where it works in harmony with the knight to attack e5.  White prepares to castle at the same time.</p>
  
  <p>So looking at the Ruy Lopez from that perspective, any other moves would violate some opening principle.  Obviously there are plenty of openings that are played, but the Spanish Game is one of the oldest and one of the best.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: I agree @xaisoft, but want to point out that learn from it is not the same as learn how to play it. It also is one of the most rich and complicated openings that can be played (with some lines being very positional and others covering wild attacks), and this is not always good for beginners.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pablo S. Ocal
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Answers.Text: Why doesn't 3.Bb5 with the queen's knight still on b1 violate the "knights before bishops" principle? What opening principles are violated by 3.Bc4 or 3.d4 or 3.Nc3?
Answers.UserDisplayName: bof
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Answers.Text: Further, the RL doesn't require any positional compromise.  It's rock solid.  Which is why GMs know it to 40 moves deep, lol.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
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Answers.Text: The Ruy Lopez is also very good for Beginners to learn from.  Especially since it employs many sound opening fundamentals which beginners should concentrate on to begin with.
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Body: <p>The Ruy Lopez opening is characterized by the moves:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[fen ""]
  
  1. e4 e5
  2. Nf3 Nc6
  3. Bb5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why is this opening so popular? It does not appear to be particularly special/unique for white or black, so why is it a popular opening?</p>
  
Tags: <opening><ruy-lopez>
Title: Why is the Ruy Lopez such a common opening?
ThreadText: # Why is the Ruy Lopez such a common opening?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-04)
  
  The Ruy Lopez opening is characterized by the moves:
  
  ```
  [fen ""]
  
  1. e4 e5
  2. Nf3 Nc6
  3. Bb5
  
  ```
  
  Why is this opening so popular? It does not appear to be particularly special/unique for white or black, so why is it a popular opening?
  
  **Tags:** opening, ruy-lopez
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2012-05-04. Score: 35 | Accepted answer
  
  The Ruy Lopez is pretty much the epitome of opening principles. White opens with the king pawn to claim the center, and black counters in the same way. Then white develops a knight (knights before bishops!) to attack black's pawn. Black defends the pawn with a knight. Finally, white develops a bishop to b5 where it works in harmony with the knight to attack e5. White prepares to castle at the same time.
  
  So looking at the Ruy Lopez from that perspective, any other moves would violate some opening principle. Obviously there are plenty of openings that are played, but the Spanish Game is one of the oldest and one of the best.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: Further, the RL doesn't require any positional compromise.  It's rock solid.  Which is why GMs know it to 40 moves deep, lol.  
  > **username_10**: The Ruy Lopez is also very good for Beginners to learn from.  Especially since it employs many sound opening fundamentals which beginners should concentrate on to begin with.  
  > **username_7**: I agree @username_10, but want to point out that learn from it is not the same as learn how to play it. It also is one of the most rich and complicated openings that can be played (with some lines being very positional and others covering wild attacks), and this is not always good for beginners.  
  > **username_8**: Why doesn't 3.Bb5 with the queen's knight still on b1 violate the "knights before bishops" principle? What opening principles are violated by 3.Bc4 or 3.d4 or 3.Nc3?  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-07. Score: 21
  
  There is a more subtle issue here. Why is `3.Bb5` more popular / better / more interesting than the Italian game `3.Bc4`?
  
  In the Ruy Lopez, white isn't really going to win the `e5` pawn, and the bishop is anyway going to be kicked back to the `b3-f7` diagonal giving black the free moves `a6` and `b5`, so why not play `Bc4` in the first place?
  
  The answer is that the bishop is tactically more vulnerable on `c4`, often making an equalizing move sequence `Nxe4` followed by `d5` feasible for black. In fact, due to this important difference, in the Ruy Lopez white always has time to build an ideal pawn centre with `c3` and `d4`, while in the Italian game this is more likely to lead to equality. So in the Italian game, white often has to be content with placing the d-pawn on `d3`.
  
  More mysteriously, Carlsen has recently started to play the move `d3` in standard Ruy Lopez lines. You have to ask a 2700+ player to explain that one :)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Carlsen is showing that white does not need to rush in playing d4, but can wait till an opportune moment. White can take time to complete his development without allowing black counterplay on the e4 pawn.  
  > **username_3**: And, also, Black loses as much time kicking the bishop from b5 as White loses getting it kicked.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2012-05-06. Score: 5
  
  The Ruy Lopez is a "basic" opening. It was among the first to be invented and "standardized," first by Sr. Lopez himself, then by Morphy, Steinitz, Alekhine, and others, who discovered variations.
  
  It involves both sides moving out their e pawns, then knights, in accordance with opening principles. Then white attacks Black's c knight with his bishop, Black parries with `...a6`, etc., and the battle is on in a natural flow.
  
  Of course, you can use other openings involving other center pawns (e.g. the d pawns), other knights (White plays `2. Nc3`, or Black plays `2... Nf6`), but those are actually more complicated than the Ruy.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2018-03-21. Score: 1
  
  The very first time I played chess, I didn't know any openings and chose the Ruy Lopez due to mental intimidation then later found out its name and I play the scotch more often. It doubles up the pawns and removes the defender of the e pawn plus developing so it's very logical.
  
  
  ---
  
  