Ruy Lopez: Closed, Balla Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. a4
11… b4+0.46
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Balla Variation (C88), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. a4, Stockfish 18 recommends 11… b4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.46).
Top engine moves
- +0.4611… b4 12. d5 Rb8 13. Nbd2 Bd8 14. h3 O-O 15. c4 g6 16. b3
- +0.4911… c4 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. Nf1 h6 14. h3 Re8 15. Bd2 Bd7 16. Ne3
- +0.6711… Ra7 12. b4 cxb4 13. cxb4 Nc4 14. Nc3 Bd7 15. Qd3 O-O 16. dxe5
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Balla Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. a4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11… b4 for Black, continuing 12. d5 Rb8 13. Nbd2 Bd8 14. h3 O-O 15. c4 g6 16. b3. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 11… c4 (+0.49) and 11… Ra7 (+0.67).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Balla Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: 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, Balla Variation?
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+).