C69 Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Normal Variation
C69 holds five named lines, all under the name Ruy Lopez. It leaves C68 (Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation) with 4...dxc6 5.O-O. Black, to move in that position, has 37 legal moves, the fourth-highest count of the 40 Ruy Lopez codes. Of all other reference positions, the board of C72 (Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense) comes closest, three squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 3 | Bb5 | a6 |
| 4 | Bxc6 | dxc6 |
| 5 | O-O |
Moves only C69 plays
Same as C68 up to 4.Bxc6, then:
- 4...dxc6 The d-pawn takes the bishop on c6, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the bishop on c8 and the queen on d8.
- 5.O-O White castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d1, guarding the pawn on g2.
Lines filed under C69
All five share their first nine plies, the whole reference line and then split four ways at Black’s move 5.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Normal Variation | (the shared start itself) | 9 | White castled |
| Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Bronstein Variation | 5...Qd6 | 10 | White castled |
| Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Gligoric Variation | 5...f6 | 10 | White castled |
| Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, King’s Bishop Variation | 5...Bd6 | 10 | White castled |
| Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation, Alapin Gambit | 5...Bg4 6.h3 h5 | 12 | White castled |
The road to C69
- 1.e4 … 3.Bb5five earlier stops: B00, C20, C40, C44, C60
- 3...a6C70 Morphy Defense
- 4.Bxc6C68 Exchange Variation
- 5.O-OC69
The position after 5.O-O
White has brought out the knight on f3; Black has not yet moved a knight or bishop. Black has a half-open d-file. Black could capture with Qxd2.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | five squares: a4, c6, f6, d7, g8 |
| C79 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred | five squares: a4, c6, d6, f6, g8 |
| C80 | Ruy Lopez: Open | five squares: a4, e4, c6, d7, g8 |
| C85 | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Delayed Exchange | six squares: c6, f6, d7, e7, f8, g8 |
| C66 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Improved Steinitz Defense | seven squares: b5, a6, c6, d6, f6, a7, g8 |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit Accepted | seven squares: e4, b5, a6, c6, a7, d7, g8 |
| C70 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | seven squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, b5, c6, d7 |