ECO code: C70
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5.
Characteristic of the move 5...Bc5: Black develops the bishop actively to c5, targeting White’s f2-square and putting pressure on White’s center and kingside. This is a more aggressive alternative to the more common 5...Nf6, aiming for quick piece activity rather than immediate defense.
Playing style: For Black, this move is attacking, as it seeks to challenge White’s control of the center and prepare for rapid development and potential kingside attacks. For White, the position demands careful play to maintain central control and develop safely, so White’s approach is typically positional with attacking chances.
Center control: This variation involves active play around the center. While White has initial central presence with the pawn on e4 and knight on f3, Black’s bishop on c5 directly pressures the center and supports potential central breaks, so the opening does indeed focus on contesting the center.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 3 - Move #9 white