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Morphy Defence




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Opening name: Morphy Defence
Opening line: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
Lichess Board
Wikibooks Page

Winning percentages

White: 29861 (30.56%)
Black: 19094 (19.54%)
Draws: 48756 (49.9%)

Morphy Defence

By far the most commonly played Black third move in the Ruy Lopez game is the Morphy variation, 3...a6, which "puts the question" to the white bishop. Although 3...a6 was known earlier, it became popular after it was played by world champion Paul Morphy. White has only two good options, 4. Bxc6 or 4. Ba4. The main point to 3...a6 is that after the common retreat 4.Ba4, Black will have the possibility of breaking the pin on his queen knight by playing ...b5. In fact, White must take some care to not fall into the Noah's Ark Trap in which Black traps White's king bishop on the b3-square with a ...a6, ...b5, and ...c4 pawn advance on the queenside.

Common Moves

a b c d e f g h
8{{{square}}} black rook{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black bishop{{{square}}} black queen{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black bishop{{{square}}} black knight{{{square}}} black rook8
7{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn7
6{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black knight{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king6
5{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king5
4{{{square}}} white bishop{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king4
3{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white knight{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king3
2{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn2
1{{{square}}} white rook{{{square}}} white knight{{{square}}} white bishop{{{square}}} white queen{{{square}}} white king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white rook1
a b c d e f g h
4.Ba4   (Morphy's Defence Main Line)

a b c d e f g h
8{{{square}}} black rook{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black bishop{{{square}}} black queen{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black bishop{{{square}}} black knight{{{square}}} black rook8
7{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black pawn7
6{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white bishop{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king6
5{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king5
4{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king4
3{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white knight{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king3
2{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn{{{square}}} white pawn2
1{{{square}}} white rook{{{square}}} white knight{{{square}}} white bishop{{{square}}} white queen{{{square}}} white king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} black king{{{square}}} white rook1
a b c d e f g h
4. Bxc6   (Morphy's Defence Exchange Variation)
Most popular responses

  • 4. Ba4 (Unnamed) The last two moves ...a6 and Ba4 have made no substantial change to the position, therefore Black's options are much the same as they were on his previous move, although they are now known as deferred defences. Hunting down White's bishop now is not wise. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (18378627 games)

  • 4. Bxc6 (Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation) White decides they don't want to risk having their Bishop trapped on the queenside, and exchanges it with black's Knight. Black's only good move is 4...dxc6, as 4...bxc6 leaves white with a small advantage. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (12467789 games)

    Engine Evaluation

    Depth: 40
    Score: +0.38
    Best Move: Ba4
    PV Line: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Bc5 8. a4 O-O
    Historical games for Unnamed

    GameResultYear
    Carlsen, M. (2882) vs Caruana, F. (2818)1/2-1/22019
    Caruana, Fabiano (2835) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2863)1/2-1/22020
    Caruana, F. (2819) vs Carlsen, M. (2875)1/2-1/22019
    Carlsen, M. (2882) vs Ding Liren (2805)0-12019
    Anand, V. (2804) vs Carlsen, M. (2876)1-02015
    Carlsen, M. (2875) vs Ding Liren (2805)1-02019
    Carlsen, Magnus (2862) vs Aronian, Levon (2813)1-02013
    Carlsen, M. (2870) vs Ding Liren (2801)0-12019
    Carlsen, M. (2870) vs Ding Liren (2801)1-02019
    Carlsen, Magnus (2848) vs Aronian, Levon (2815)1-02012
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