ECO C78 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d5

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

6. exd5+1.69

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit (C78), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. exd5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.69).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.696. exd5 Qxd5 7. c4 Qc5 8. Re1 Be7 9. Bxc6+ Qxc6 10. Nxe5 Qb6
  2. +1.596. Nxe5 dxe4 7. Nxc6 Qd6 8. Ne5+ b5 9. d4 bxa4 10. Bf4 Qe6
  3. +0.756. Re1 dxe4 7. Nxe5 b5 8. Nxc6 Qd6 9. Na5 Be7 10. d4 Ng4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. exd5 for White, continuing Qxd5 7. c4 Qc5 8. Re1 Be7 9. Bxc6+ Qxc6 10. Nxe5 Qb6. White is clearly better (+1.69). The next best moves are 6. Nxe5 (+1.59) and 6. Re1 (+0.75).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.69: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Ruy Lopez: Central Countergambit?
C78. 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+).