I don't Know any counter to the the Ruy Lopez

I just Know the bird defence.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb4 Nd4 Nxd4 exd4.

Originally posted by jonzzzz
I just Know the bird defence.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb4 Nd4 Nxd4 exd4.

Well, then you should probably go learn one.

It's time for you to get a watch.

you are not helping

CMs Master What do you do against the Ruy Lopez.

Originally posted by jonzzzz
CMs Master What do you do against the Ruy Lopez.

You say to yourself "Boy, I really should have played 1...c5."

I hate c5 because if White Knows What to do you would loose easily.

Originally posted by jonzzzz
I hate c5 because if White Knows What to do you would loose easily.

That's how almost every single opening you play is. Some more extreme than others, but the Ruy is about as theoretical as the Sicilian (in general). I don't play 1..e5 so it's not like I could help you if I wanted to. But The closed defense seems to be the most respected.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 (I think...my line may be sketchy here) 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 O-O and theory continues for a long time. The Chigorin Variation used to be very popular, but I'm not sure if it is now. I'd say that if you know the basic principles behind the opening, and the first 6-7 moves you should be fine at your level. Wait for somebody that knows the opening to respond, I don't actually use the Ruy (from either side) and so me giving anybody advice on it is a bit hard.

Originally posted by jonzzzz
I just Know the bird defence.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb4 Nd4 Nxd4 exd4.

Bird Defence is pretty weak. Why not try 1.e4 d6 Pirc Defence or Sicilian.

Originally posted by jonzzzz
I just Know the bird defence.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb4 Nd4 Nxd4 exd4.

I don't know much about it either.The few times I played it I tried the Marshall attack or the Jänisch(Schliemann as it's called in english).But I do know where you can get some info.
Here you can explore the opening:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?node=21724&move=3.5&moves=e4.e5.Nf3.Nc6.Bb5&nodes=21720.21721.21722.21723.21724

Here you can find a bunch of games to study the lines you like best (eco code for the ruy lopez is C60 to C99):
http://www.chessgames.com/

That should get you going 🙂

The defense I like against the Ruy is as follows: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4



You could try it, but there is a bit of theory even though it isn't mainline.

Originally posted by jonzzzz
I just Know the bird defence.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb4 Nd4 Nxd4 exd4.

Bird's is very hard to play, partly because its so unlike any other opening, also because black will sometimes have to defend for a very long time. It is a great specialist weapon but you really need to put a lot of work into it. On the other hand, nine times out of ten your opponent will be as confused as you are in the resultant positions.

If you're looking for something unusual and relatively straight-forward v the Spanish you could try the Cozio, ie 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7, later developing either with g6 and Bg7 or exd4, Ng6 and B-somewhere.

Otherwise, it's best imo to try to learn (one of) the mainlines, eg the Berlin, Archangel, Closed, Open, Marshall. There is a lot to learn though, in each of them.

I used to play the Cozio Defence - 1.e4 e5 2.nf3 nc6 3.bb5 ne7. It seemed pretty solid and I rarely got really dreadful positions out of the opening. If you've got the time to study it, try learning one of the f7-f5 lines!

Originally posted by exigentsky
The defense I like against the Ruy is as follows: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4

[fen]r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2p3/4n3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 5[/fen]

You could try it, but there is a bit of theory even though it isn't mainline.

More than a bit, it is one of the main variations of the Berlin defense (next to 4. ... Bc5). Kramnik plays this.

Originally posted by TommyC
Bird's is very hard to play, partly because its so unlike any other opening, also because black will sometimes have to defend for a very long time. It is a great specialist weapon but you really need to put a lot of work into it. On the other hand, nine times out of ten your opponent will be as confused as you are in the resultant positions.

If you're look ...[text shortened]... e Berlin, Archangel, Closed, Open, Marshall. There is a lot to learn though, in each of them.

Many Bird players go astray when you don't take on d4 but play 4.Bc4 instead, and they think they can afford 4. ... b5 to push your bishop away (instead of taking on f3). Follows 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxd4 exd4? 7.Qh5+ and you will win the rook on a8.