by The Spanish Game, also known as the Ruy Lopez, is one of the oldest and most classical openings in chess history. Here are some of the most popular variations of the Spanish Game:
Closed Ruy Lopez: a more positional and less tactical line, characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6.
The Closed Ruy Lopez is a solid and positional chess opening that has been played in several World Chess Championships. A favorite among many top-level players mainly due to the positional play.
Some famous games in World Chess Championships that have featured the Closed Ruy Lopez include:
Anatoly Karpov vs. Garry Kasparov, World Chess Championship 1984: In this match, Karpov employed the Closed Ruy Lopez to defeat Kasparov and become World Chess Champion.
Anatoly Karpov vs. Garry Kasparov, World Chess Championship 1986: In this match, Karpov used the Closed Ruy Lopez in several games, including a famous victory over Kasparov.
Viswanathan Anand vs. Veselin Topalov, World Chess Championship 2010: In this match, Anand used the Closed Ruy Lopez in several games, including a famous victory over Topalov.
Berlin Defense: a solid and defensive line, characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4.
The Berlin Defense is a solid and highly defensive chess opening that has been played in several World Chess Championships.
Some famous games in World Chess Championships that have featured the Berlin Defense include:
Viswanathan Anand vs. Vladimir Kramnik, World Chess Championship 2008: In this match, Kramnik employed the Berlin Defense to defeat Anand and become World Chess Champion.
Viswanathan Anand vs. Veselin Topalov, World Chess Championship 2010: In this match, Anand used the Berlin Defense in several games, including a famous victory over Topalov.
Magnus Carlsen vs. Fabiano Caruana, World Chess Championship 2014: In this match, Carlsen used the Berlin Defense to defeat Caruana and retain his World Chess Champion title.
Open Ruy Lopez: a more tactical and aggressive line, characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3.
Marshall Defense: a sharp, aggressive and tactical line, characterized by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5.
