Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense

also known as: Spanish, 3...a6

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6

Named after

Paul Morphy (1837–1884), the New Orleans prodigy who crushed Europe's best in 1858–59 and then walked away from chess.

Origin

Morphy played 3...a6 consistently in his 1858 Paris matches, and his authority made it the main line forever after.

The story

Before Morphy, Black usually defended e5 directly. Morphy's little pawn move asks the bishop a question a move early: retreat or take? If 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nxe5, Black regains the pawn with Qd4 — so the "threat" against e5 is an illusion, and Black gains the option of ...b5 for free. It is the quintessential Morphy idea: an apparently modest move that seizes long-term flexibility. Nearly every Ruy Lopez played today passes through 3...a6.

Why it matters

The insertion of ...a6 and Ba4 defines the modern Spanish: Black keeps the b5 tempo-gainer in reserve, and White keeps the bishop aimed at the kingside. The whole Closed Ruy Lopez complex grows from here.

Notable games

• Anderssen–Morphy, Paris 1858
• Fischer–Spassky, Reykjavík 1972 (game 10)