Starting from 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 d5, players enter the Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack — ECO C89. Lichess records 706,693 games in this line, which gives us a reliable view of how it actually performs in practice.
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 Viswanathan Anand (28 games), Judit Polgar (18 games), Peter Leko (17 games). Black-side regulars include Michael Adams (38 games), Levon Aronian (37 games), Mark L Hebden (30 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
The picture changes a lot as you climb the rating ladder. The 1200 bracket has 6,278 games (0.00% of all games at that level); White wins 47.2%, Black 50%, 2.9% are drawn. At 1800 the opening surfaces in 0.03% of games; White wins 40.1%, Black 55%, draws 4.8%. At 2500, 0.04% of games go into this opening; draws sit at 11.8% — the line is well-mapped at this level. White's edge erodes by 3.2pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.
Time Control Patterns
The Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack skews toward blitz chess. In bullet, it appears in 0.01% of games (196,506); White wins 43.3%. Blitz shows 0.02% adoption across 593,072 games, White scoring 41.8%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.01% — 113,621 games, White 39.7%. White's score swings 3.6pp across formats, so time control isn't just a stylistic choice here — it shifts the actual results.
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 exd5, played 73.3% of the time. There are 3 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 93.6% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 1.36. By 2500, exd5 dominates at 85.3% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 99.5% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 0.76. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Historical Trends
Year-over-year data tells you whether this opening is a contemporary fixture or a fading one. Adoption peaked in 2015 at 0.03% (6,305 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.01% — a 61% shift overall, leaving the line in decline.
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, Marshall Attack 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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