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This lesson will give you initial knowledge on the Ruy Lopes chess opening, its Morphy Defense variation, and it is designed for chess beginners. To learn the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez, please read its description in Part I just below and see video on this variation in Part II at the bottom of this page.
I. Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense: Description
The following is the designated moves of the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening (see below the moves and the picture):
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
By statistics, 70 % of the Ruy Lopez games start as the Morphy Defense variation. This variation is considered to be one of the best for Black in the Ruy Lopez chess opening. After 4... Nf6, White is to answer by making any of the following 6 moves: • 5.0-0; • 5.d3; • 5.Qe2; • 5.d4; • 5.Nc3; • 5.Bxc6. At a later stage, the typical moves of the Morphy Defense variation for White are: Bb3 (retreating from a4), Nbd2, d3.
For Black, those moves are the following: b5, Be7, Na5, d6. White and Black usually conduct the short castling between the 5th - 11th moves from beginning a Ruy Lopez chess game... It is better for you to understand it in a visible way by seeing the video on the Ruy Lopez Morphy Defense Variation below.
II. Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defense: Video
Below is video "Ruy Lopez Morphy Defense Variation" which runs for 3 minutes 36 seconds. The video consists of the following 2 parts. Part 1 is Introduction, and Part 2 will show how to play 6 proven lines of the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez. To see the video, click the Play button below:
• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.
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On this page, you have learned the Morphy Defense variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening ...
