ECO C87 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6

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

7. c3+0.51

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation (C87), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. c3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.51).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.517. c3 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. d3 O-O 10. Nbd2 d5 11. Bxc6 bxc6
  2. +0.427. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Bg4 10. Qd3 Bd7 11. Nc3 O-O
  3. +0.157. a3 b5 8. Bb3 Na5 9. Ba2 O-O 10. d3 c5 11. h3 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. c3 for White, continuing Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. d3 O-O 10. Nbd2 d5 11. Bxc6 bxc6. White is slightly better (+0.51). The next best moves are 7. Bxc6+ (+0.42) and 7. a3 (+0.15).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Averbakh Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.51: 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: Closed, Averbakh Variation?
C87. 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+).