1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5

This opening, also commonly known as the Ruy López, was mentioned in the Gottingen Manuscript of about 1500, but was systematically described by the Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura in his 1561 treatise on chess.

This opening looks very much like the Italian Game, with knights posted at f3 and c6, and white then developing the king’s bishop. But here, instead of playing Bc4, with an attack against black’s weak spot at f7, white plays Bb5, attacking black’s knight. This is a somewhat subtler, more strategic move. The most obvious idea here is that since black’s knight is defending the pawn on e5, attacking the knight will undermine the pawn’s protection. This doesn’t immediately win the pawn, since if white exchanges with 4. Bxc6 dxc6 and then grabs the pawn with 5. Nxe5, black can play 5… Qd4, which threatens both white’s knight and pawn, and can then take the pawn and even things out after the knight retreats. However, even though there isn’t an immediate tactical threat, black must play carefully to keep the e5 pawn defended.

Older replies to the Ruy López for black include the Classical Defence, 3… Bc5; the Steinitz Defence, 3… d6; and the Berlin Defence, 3… Nf6. However, the most common reply nowadays is the Morphy Defence, 3… a6, an innovation made by Paul Morphy in the mid-19th century. This move “puts the question to the bishop” and forces white to decide whether to exchange with 4. Bxc6 dxc6 or to retreat with 4. Ba4.

The Spanish Opening is one of the most popular chess openings, and has probably been the most commonly played of the king’s pawn openings in high-level play for over a century. Although it’s what Ruy López’s chess treatise is best remembered for today, I feel I would be remiss not to give you this other nugget of chess advice that López offers in his book: “Place the board so that the sun is in your opponent’s eyes.”