#Berlin-Defense
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Posts tagged with #Berlin-Defense
Is the Ruy Lopez dead in the era of the Berlin and early‑game engines?
Been watching the elite circuit for a while now and the classic Ruy Lopez just feels like a relic. Everyone's shuffling into the Berlin or even the Chigorin‑type lines before move 5, and the old main‑line stuff looks like a slow‑poke trap for the unwary. I tried a few 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 in a rapid and got crushed by a 2600‑ish engine that just sidestepped the whole theory.
So my question: are we witnessing the end of the Ruy Lopez as a serious weapon at the top level, or is it just a temporary dip because engines favor the Berlin's solidity? I'd love to hear if anyone still gets decent results with the main line in blitz or even classical, or if we should just retire the old Spanish and move on.
Push me if you think I'm wrong – I’m ready for the counter‑argument.