ECO C66 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6

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

7… Bxc6+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation (C66), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Bxc6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.557… Bxc6 8. Re1 O-O 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8 Raxd8 11. Nxe5 Bxe4 12. Nxe4
  2. +1.607… bxc6 8. dxe5 Ng4 9. exd6 cxd6 10. Bf4 Qc7 11. h3 Ne5 12. Re1
  3. +4.407… exd4 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Qd3 Bd8 12. a4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Bxc6 for Black, continuing 8. Re1 O-O 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8 Raxd8 11. Nxe5 Bxe4 12. Nxe4. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 7… bxc6 (+1.60) and 7… exd4 (+4.40).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: white is slightly better. 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 Showalter 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+).