ECO C66 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Bernstein Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bg5

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7… exd4+0.25

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Bernstein Variation (C66), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bg5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… exd4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.257… exd4 8. Nxd4 O-O 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qd3 Re8 12. Rad1
  2. +0.277… h6 8. Be3 exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qd3
  3. +0.297… O-O 8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Bxd7 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 Nxd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Nd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Bernstein Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bg5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… exd4 for Black, continuing 8. Nxd4 O-O 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qd3 Re8 12. Rad1. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 7… h6 (+0.27) and 7… O-O (+0.29).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Bernstein Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Bernstein Variation?
C66. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).