1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 opens the Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3... d6, ECO C90. With 807,934 games on record, the patterns below come from the largest practical sample available.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3... 7.Bb3. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Mikhail Tal (109 games), Vlastimil Jansa (109 games), Gyula Sax (90 games). Black-side regulars include Svetozar Gligoric (208 games), Oleg M Romanishin (166 games), Alexander G Beliavsky (137 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
Popularity and results vary sharply by rating level. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (13,412 samples). White scores 51.5%, Black 44.7%, draws 3.8%. At 1800 the opening surfaces in 0.02% of games; White wins 50.1%, Black 44.7%, draws 5.1%. Among 2500-rated players the line appears in 0.20% of games and draws spike to 9.7%, indicating tight preparation. White's edge erodes by 3.4pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.
Time Control Patterns
Look at the same opening across time controls and blitz stands out. In bullet, it appears in 0.01% of games (193,936); White wins 50.7%. Blitz shows 0.02% adoption across 678,583 games, White scoring 49.2%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.01% — 129,351 games, White 48.9%.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Looking at move selection shows how forcing — or not — the position really is. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is d4, played 71.4% of the time. There are 2 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 96.9% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 1.24. By 2500, h3 dominates at 84.5% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 97.9% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 0.82.
Historical Trends
Year-over-year data tells you whether this opening is a contemporary fixture or a fading one. Adoption peaked in 2017 at 0.03% (35,018 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.01% — a 44% shift overall, leaving the line in decline.
Main Lines and Variations
From the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6, the recognised continuations are:
Each branch leads to a different middlegame character — the resulting pawn structure decides what kind of game you get.
Common Mistakes
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Playing without a plan — Each Ruy Lopez, Closed Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3... d6 middlegame demands a specific approach. Decide whether the position calls for attack, manoeuvre, or simplification before reaching for a move.
Practice on Chessiverse
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