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Top 10 Popular Chess Openings

From Mark Weeks,
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Ruy Lopez 4.Ba4

In response to 1.e4, the move 1...e5 is only slightly less popular than 1...c5. The family of openings that start 1.e4 e5 are often known as Open Games.

After the natural 2.Nf3 Nc6, attacking and defending Black's Pawn on e5, White continues the attack with 3.Bb5. This is called the Ruy Lopez, known in some languages as the Spanish Game.

The most popular continuation is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O as in the diagram. Here Black has three popular continuations.

  • 5...Be7 : Closed Ruy Lopez
  • 5...Nxe4 : Open Ruy Lopez
  • 5...b5

For more about the diagrammed position, see Ruy Lopez 4.Ba4 in our Repertoire Recommendations.

  1. Sicilian Defense - ...d6 Variations
  2. Sicilian Defense - Black avoids an early ...d6
  3. Ruy Lopez 4.Ba4
  4. Italian Game
  5. French Defense
  6. Nimzo Indian or Queen's Indian?
  7. King's Indian or Gruenfeld?
  8. Closed Game
  9. Reti System
  10. English Opening

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