Chess Question: Black's Response to Ruy Lopez?

Question

How do you respond as black when white plays the "Ruy Lopez" opening, threatening the black knight at c6 with the bishop. I don't know what to do, because I don't want to have a compromised (doubled-up) pawn structure if white's bishop takes the knight.

Answer 1

Although Fischer had success with the exchange variation,
many methods have been found to give black adequate chances.
A little study and you'll see that white cannot win the pawn on e5.

The "main" moves to 3.Bb5 are 3...a6 leading into Morphy's defense (there are many variations of that as well) or 3...Nf6
leading into what is known as the "Berlin Wall".

3....f5 is known as the Schlieman defense, quite risky, but it does
make white think. Over the board this may have practical value
if black is better prepared.

Answer 2

White usually won't choose to lose the "minor exchange," but if he does, the strength of the two bishops is more than adequate compensation for the problem pawn structure. In many variations of the Spanish game, the white bishop gets chased by pawns at a6 and b5 and often moves yet again to c2 or even occasionally b1 or d1.