Chess Moment · Openings
Ruy Lopez: Re1 behind e4, and the knight’s long road
The Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) on real positions: Re1 turns Bxc6 and Nxe5 into a real threat, and the knight travels d2–f1–g3 to the kingside.
The moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
The lessons
The rook that guards e4
In the Spanish the e5 pawn is attacked but cannot be won while e4 hangs to …Qd4. Re1 guards e4 with a developing move and turns the threat into a real one.
The knight’s long road
In the closed Spanish the queen’s knight travels d2–f1–g3 (or e3). It takes three moves, so the bishop must be safe first and the centre must hold while it travels.