Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
8… Bb7+0.27
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall (C88), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Bb7 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.27).
Top engine moves
- +0.278… Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Bd2 Qd7 11. h3 b4 12. a5 Rfb8 13. c3
- +0.358… b4 9. c3 d6 10. h3 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. cxb4 cxb4 13. d4
- +0.358… Na5 9. axb5 Nxb3 10. cxb3 d5 11. Nxe5 dxe4 12. d4 Re8 13. Nc3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Bb7 for Black, continuing 9. d3 d6 10. Bd2 Qd7 11. h3 b4 12. a5 Rfb8 13. c3. The position is roughly equal (+0.27). The next best moves are 8… b4 (+0.35) and 8… Na5 (+0.35).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.27: 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: Closed, Anti-Marshall?
C88. 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+).