Ruy Lopez Blue chess computer in Game 2 of their 1997 match. Svetozar Gligorić has been the most prolific C93 player. 9...Qd7 is another variation by Smyslov. Of the variations in this section, the Berlin and Schliemann Defences are the most popular today, followed by the Classical Defence. and other less-common third moves for Black. The Cozio Defence (part of "ECO" C60), 3...Nge7, is distinctly old-fashioned and the least popular of the defences at Black's third move. Although Bent Larsen used it occasionally with success, it remains one of the least explored variations of the Ruy Lopez. The Smyslov Defence, Fianchetto Defence,
Ruy Lopez Leko used the Marshall to win an important game against World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. Currently, Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian is one of the main advocates for the Marshall Attack. The main lines of the Closed Ruy Lopez continue 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0. White can now play 9.d3 or 9.d4, but by far the most common move is 9.h3 which prepares d4 while preventing the awkward pin ...Bg4. This can be considered the main line of the opening as a whole and thousands of top-level games have reached this position. White aims to play d4 followed by Nbd2–f1–g3, which