ECO C67 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5

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

9. Qe4+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation (C67), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Qe4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.559. Qe4 g6 10. c4 Bb7 11. Nc3 d5 12. exd6 cxd6 13. g4 Ng7
  2. +0.289. Rd1 O-O 10. c4 d6 11. Nc3 Re8 12. h3 Bf8 13. b3 Ne7
  3. +0.269. c4 O-O 10. Nc3 d6 11. Rd1 Re8 12. b3 Bf8 13. h3 Rb8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Qe4 for White, continuing g6 10. c4 Bb7 11. Nc3 d5 12. exd6 cxd6 13. g4 Ng7. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 9. Rd1 (+0.28) and 9. c4 (+0.26).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel 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, Cordel Variation?
C67. 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+).