ECO C67 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7

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

6. Qe2+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation (C67), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Qe2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.446. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5 9. Qe4 g6 10. Nc3 Rb8
  2. +0.296. d5 Nd6 7. Be2 e4 8. dxc6 exf3 9. cxb7 Bxb7 10. Bxf3 O-O
  3. +0.256. dxe5 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. exd6 Bxd6 9. Nbd2 Ng5 10. Bxc6 bxc6

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Qe2 for White, continuing Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5 9. Qe4 g6 10. Nc3 Rb8. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 6. d5 (+0.29) and 6. dxe5 (+0.25).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: 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, Rio de Janeiro 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+).