Easy Guide to the Ruy Lopez is John Emms' 1998 repertoire book on 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 from White's point of view. As such, it is not a complement to his Open Games book (reviewed by me elsewhere), since that book recommends a repertoire for Black against all 1.e4 e5 lines played by White, but excluding the Lopez. There is some connection, however: if, as Emms tries to show, all the White systems versus 1.e4 e5 are fairly easily manageable, then White will probably want to start looking at the Lopez.

In general, it's easy to recommend this book to anyone who plays 3.Bb5. Emms is a leading author, and what other resource gives you so many up-to-date lines to play? The Lopez tends to be covered in bits and pieces, so this is a much-needed contribution. As I am not an expert in these lines, I will just make a few non-technical remarks. First, there are several occasions (just for example, in the Open Ruy) in which Emms, to his credit, tells of a suggested improvement for Black; but he doesn't then offer a White move in response. This leaves the repertoire-follower somewhat in the lurch. Still, it may just indicate that Black can equalize in a few Lopez lines if he plays well.

Another issue has to do with the continued viability of the Marshall Attack. Kasparov and others now tend to play to avoid the Marshall (in the last 5 years, Kasparov has 3 games with 8.h3 followed by 9.d3, 1 with 6.Bxc6, 1 with 8.d3, and none with 8.c3 and 9.h3, allowing the Marshall with 9...d5). He seems to turn to the Scotch Game (3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4) when he needs a win. Emms avoids this problem by recommending the anti-Marshall (8.a4), perhaps a necessary choice in a 144-page book. But although top players used the anti-Marshall successfully some years back, they aren't doing so much today. I believe that it now lacks the punch to do much damage. Interestingly, for example, Emms himself finds even the move 8...b4 to be "underestimated," and doesn't really offer White a way to fight for advantage against it.

As I've indicated, this book fills a need and gives the Lopez player a head start in building a repertoire. Until something more comprehensive comes around, this is a book all 3.Bb5 players will want to own.

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