Counter the Ruy Lopez with the Classical Defense
The Ruy Lopez is White’s most popular way of playing in the Symmetrical King’s Pawn Opening. If you are going to meet 1. e4 with 1. …e5 with the Black pieces, then you must be prepared to face the Ruy Lopez! The Classical Defense is a great option. It is a less common choice for Black, meaning that White is unlikely to be as deeply prepared for it. It also offers Black the prospect of gaining good winning chances with plans that are easily remembered.
In this article, you will learn:
- Why you should consider playing the Classical Defense against the Ruy Lopez.
- White’s main options in the Classical Defense and how to play against them.
- Recommended resources to further your understanding of the Classical Defense.
The Classical Defense: Introduction
The Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Game) begins 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. Bb5. At this point, Black has several reasonable moves to choose from:
- 3. …a6 is Black’s most popular choice, immediately putting the question to White’s light-squared bishop.
- 3. …Nf6 is the Berlin Defense. This solid option has a somewhat drawish reputation.
- 3. …f5 is the Jaenisch Gambit. If the gambit is accepted, the game can quickly become very double-edged. However, White usually declines the gambit.
Related: Learn how to play the Ruy Lopez with White.
In this article we cover an alternative move for Black: 3. …Bc5, the “Classical Defense”. With this move, Black develops their bishop to a natural diagonal, pointing towards White’s weak f2 square. Developing the bishop off its starting square also prepares to quickly castle the king.
The Classical Defense, as the name suggests, is one of the oldest systems for playing against the Ruy Lopez.
Ruy Lopez Classical Defense Stats
At master level, the Classical Defense is only Black’s 5th most popular choice on move three. One reason for this is that it results in a high percentage of White victories, with 43% of games beginning with the Classical Defense ending in wins for White.
Given that the Classical Defense seems to perform quite strongly for White, why are we still recommending it for Black?
- It is lighter on theory. Those who play the Ruy Lopez with White tend to arrive at the board armed to the teeth with memorized opening knowledge. By playing the Classical Defense, you can side-step much of your opponent’s extensive opening preparation.
- It favors rapid piece development and simple plans. When considering a chess opening to add to your repertoire, it is most important to choose one that fits well with your style. This may not necessarily be the top choice among masters. Although the Classical Defense slightly underperforms at master level, it can still be a great fit for casual players and club-level players because it follows natural opening principles.
- Black gets a flexible pawn structure. By not committing to early pawn moves such as …a6, Black can adapt their approach depending on White’s play.
Related: Tips To Improve Your Chess Opening Study.
White’s Options Against The Classical Defense
We will now take a look at how White may respond to 3. …Bc5.
4. Nxe5
White rarely plays this move, but you still need to be prepared for it. It could come as a shock to the unprepared player. Black may have assumed that their pawn on e5 was adequately defended by their knight on c6.
The point behind this miniature tactic is that after 4. …Nxe5, White intends 5. d4, forking the Black knight and bishop, regaining the piece.
Black’s best move here is 5. …c6, winning a tempo against White’s bishop. White should retreat their bishop with 6. Be2, whereupon Black is best advised to play 6. ….Bd6, so that White can only capture the Black knight instead of Black’s more valuable dark-squared bishop.
After 7. dxe5 Bxe5, material is equal and Black’s position is fine. From here, natural developing moves such as …Nf6 and …0-0 are enough to guarantee Black a comfortable game.
4. c3
This little pawn move sees White prepare the d4 pawn thrust.
Once d4 is played by White, the pawn on c3 will allow them to meet …exd4 from Black by recapturing cxd4, thereby maintaining White’s strong center with pawns on both e4 and d4.
We can see this idea in action in the following line: 4. …Nf6, 5. d4 exd4, 6. cxd4.
White’s last move (6. cxd4) was actually an inaccuracy. White was supposed to play 6. e5. However, recapturing via 6. cxd4 is very natural, especially at lower levels. It pays to know how to take advantage of it in case it occurs in your own games.
Black can give a check against the White king with 6. …Bb4+. Let’s say that White blocks the check in the most natural way with 7. Bd2. In this case, Black can simply capture the undefended White pawn on e4 via 7. …Nxe4.
Black has won a pawn. Although White has some dynamic compensation in the form of better piece activity, in practice it is difficult for White to take advantage of it. As the saying goes: “a pawn is a pawn!”
4. 0-0
The other main move for White is to castle their king immediately. Getting their king to safety allows White to avoid the sorts of complications we just saw.
Both sides have a wide range of moves from here. Instead of looking at the individual lines in detail, we will explore several thematic middlegame ideas for Black by following the game Mastrovasilis vs. Godena played at the Istanbul Olympiad of 2012.
White was able to achieve their typical c3 and d4 expansion in the center. A pair of knights were also traded. The first instructive moment comes on Black’s 7th move, where Black won a tempo against White’s light-squared bishop with 7. ....c6. It is important for Black to fight against White’s space advantage.
A couple of moves later, White pushed further ahead in the center with 9. d5, attempting to pressurize White’s pinned c-pawn. Black made the best reply: 9. …Ne7. Not only did this develop a piece and allow Black the opportunity to castle soon afterwards, it also added pressure to White’s overextended d-pawn.
With his king secure, Black soon went on to deploy a typical plan against the Ruy Lopez: queenside expansion.
The moves 15. …a5 followed by 16. …a4 gained space on the queenside for Black, while also winning a tempo against White’s light-squared bishop. This bishop was soon traded off for Black’s knight, giving Black the bishop pair and a clear advantage. Black went on to win in the endgame.
Getting Started With The Classical Defense
This article has provided an introduction to the Classical Defense. In order to take your understanding of this chess opening for Black to the next level, we have a couple more recommendations for you.
Video Training Course Recommendation
One of the best ways to learn any opening is to hear from expert players who have dedicated a vast amount of time to their study. You can copy their ideas and benefit from their experience!
The Classical Defense is no exception. One of the best learning resources is Open Games with 3. …Bc5 by Sam Collins. With over 5 hours of expert video instruction, it covers everything you need to play the Classical Defense like a pro!
How To Get Experience In The Classical Defense
A major challenge with learning a new opening is getting enough practical experience in it. You need to go beyond book learning to get the “feel” for a new opening. Ideally, by the time you play the Classical Defense in a serious game (for example, at an OTB tournament under classical time controls), you should have already played it many times in games where there is less at stake.
One of the best ways of doing this is through online blitz practice. With fast time controls, you can get several games under your belt very quickly and see what White does in practice against the Classical Defense. Then, you can review the games and go back to whichever lines deserve further attention.
Related: How To Use Blitz Chess To Improve Your Game.
Summary: Is The Classical Defense Right For You?
The Classical Defense could become your mainstay against the Ruy Lopez if you:
- Prefer to avoid opening memorization. Compared to the main lines of the Ruy Lopez where the theory can run well over a dozen moves deep, the Classical Defense is less theoretically dense. Both you and your opponent will be engaged in the battle of wits from earlier in the game, rather than reciting memorized opening knowledge.
- Like simple development and easy plans. Black develops their bishop to a good diagonal early in the game. Meanwhile, Black’s king easily reaches safety.
- Can play a long, positional game. It is rare to land a decisive tactical blow early in the game in the Classical Defense. Instead, Black should try to accumulate small advantages and outplay their opponent slowly.
Does that sound like a chess opening for Black that you would enjoy? If you are ready to learn the Classical Defense, then continue your education today!