ECO C96 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko 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 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6

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

12. d5+0.87

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko Variation (C96), 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 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. d5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.87).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.8712. d5 Na5 13. b3 Bd7 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Nbd2 Nb7 16. a4 g6
  2. +0.6612. a4 Bd7 13. d5 Na5 14. b4 cxb4 15. cxb4 Nc4 16. a5 Qb8
  3. +0.4812. a3 exd4 13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Be6 16. Nc3 Nd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko 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 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. d5 for White, continuing Na5 13. b3 Bd7 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Nbd2 Nb7 16. a4 g6. White is clearly better (+0.87). The next best moves are 12. a4 (+0.66) and 12. a3 (+0.48).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Borisenko Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.87: white is clearly 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, Borisenko Variation?
C96. 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+).