The Smyslov Ruy Lopez (3… g6) by Irina Bulmaga

An easy-to-learn, aggressive system-based response to the Ruy Lopez

There is a reason the Ruy Lopez is nicknamed the Spanish Torture. Black has a very hard time fighting for a win against it, especially with an attacking approach.

The Smyslov Ruy Lopez shows you a fighting system for Black against the Ruy Lopez. The best part of all: memorization is minimal. You learn the ideas behind the moves, without having to worry about memorizing hundreds of lines of theory.

This makes this course ideal for anyone – from players new to 1…e5 to seasoned Ruy Lopez experts looking for new and aggressive ideas.

On top of that, it is versatile, meaning that Black can utilize this setup in most Ruy Lopez lines.

The Ruy Lopez has many challenging lines for Black, but this course presents novelties to keep Black grounded and even obtain an advantage out of the opening.

A novel approach by a premier attacking mind

After having been a Sicilian player throughout her career, IM Irina Bulmaga sought to find a challenging and attacking way for Black to fight against the Ruy Lopez.

What she found after studying the games of GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and GM Kateryna Lagno was that 3…g6 presents a surprise weapon that is incredibly sturdy and playable against most Ruy Lopez lines.

In fact, it is so solid that White scores a mere 51.6% against it, compared to 55.9% against 3…a6 and 55.8% against 3…Nf6.

After having authored her highly acclaimed debut course for Chessable, The Active Bogo-Indian Defense, IM Bulmaga is here to show you how to combat the dreaded Ruy Lopez.

In The Smyslov Ruy Lopez 3…g6 you’ll learn how to fight for an advantage and the concepts behind doing so, including:

✅ The key ideas, not specific move orders, behind this system. No need to worry about what exact move to play on move 13 when you are taught simple yet effective concepts such as, “a bishop on top of a diagonal”.

✅ How to remain a pawn up and retain the bishop pair after White tries to “punish” Black with 4.d4

✅ Grab a lead in development and get both bishops operating on long diagonals after the Exchange Variation, 4.Bxc6.

✅ Place the knight on g7 to prepare timely pawn thrusts, both on f5 and d5, allowing you to blow open the center and launch an attack.