ECO C84 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Basque Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 Ne4 8. c3

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

8… dxc3−0.49

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Basque Gambit (C84), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 Ne4 8. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… dxc3 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.498… dxc3 9. Nxc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Re1 d6 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Qc2
  2. −0.268… Nc5 9. cxd4 Nxa4 10. Qxa4 d5 11. Qb3 Bg4 12. Be3 Bxf3 13. gxf3
  3. +0.178… d3 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qxd3 Nc5 11. Bxc5 Bxc5 12. Rd1 d6 13. b4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Basque Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 Ne4 8. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… dxc3 for Black, continuing 9. Nxc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Re1 d6 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Qc2. Black is slightly better (−0.49). The next best moves are 8… Nc5 (−0.26) and 8… d3 (+0.17).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Basque Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.49: black 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, Basque Gambit?
C84. 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+).