Chess Openings Lab
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Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense

The Morphy Defense is 3...a6 in the Ruy Lopez, where Black immediately asks the b5 bishop to decide. White can retreat to a4 and keep the pin, trade on c6 in the Exchange, or retreat to c4, while Black gains the option of ...b5.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
ECO
C70, C78
Engine
+0.31 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
11,784 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Retreat with Ba4, keeping the pressure on c6 and the option of Bb3 after ...b5.
  • The Exchange with Bxc6 gives up the bishop for a better structure.
  • Avoid falling into the Noah's Ark Trap, where ...b5 and ...c5 and ...c4 trap the bishop on b3.

Black

  • Develop with ...Nf6, ...Be7 and castling to reach the slower Closed Ruy structures.
  • Take on e4 with ...Nxe4 for the Open Ruy, followed by ...b5 and ...d5.
  • Use ...b5 to gain queenside space when the bishop is on a4.

Plans and pawn structure

The Morphy Defense keeps all of Black's options open. In the Closed lines, both sides maneuver with c3, d4, ...b5 and ...d6. In the Open lines after ...Nxe4, Black gets active pieces but must watch the e-file, where the Tarrasch Trap can catch careless play. White's main plans are the c3 and d4 center and the Spanish bishop pressure on c6 and e5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.31: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.31 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5
  2. +0.07 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.c3 d6
  3. 0.00 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Qf6 6.d4 exd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

11,784 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.5%.

under 120054.7%
1200–159954.9%
1600–199952.8%
2000 and up52.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Traps and pitfalls

Noah's Ark Trap (Black sets it)

White wins back the d4 pawn with 8.Qxd4, and Black traps the bishop on b3. The pawns on a6, b5 and c4 form a cage, and the bishop has no escape squares.

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The Noah's Ark Trap explained

Tarrasch Trap (White sets it)

In the Open Ruy Lopez, Black puts the queen on d7 behind the d5 pawn. White trades on e6 and then gives a rook on e4, and when the d5 pawn takes it, the d-file opens and the white queen wins the black queen.

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The Tarrasch Trap explained

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As White, retreat with Ba4 for the main lines or choose Bxc6 for the Exchange. Watch for the Noah's Ark Trap if you play d4 early and take on d4 with the queen. As Black, decide whether ...Nf6 leads you to the Closed or the Open lines.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O; 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 d6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense?

The Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6. Its ECO code is C70, C78.

Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.31 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 11,784 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.5%. The main choice for Black players who want a full classical fight; both sides need opening knowledge.

What is the main idea of the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense?

Black asks the bishop to decide with ...a6, gaining the option of ...b5 later. White retreats to a4 or trades on c6 to choose the structure.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Ba4, with Bc4 and Bxc6 close behind. 4.Ba4 retreats and keeps the pin on c6, the main line.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.