ECO C94 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense

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 Nb8

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

10. d4+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense (C94), 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 Nb8, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5510. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 g6 14. a4 c5
  2. +0.4010. Bc2 Bb7 11. d4 Re8 12. Nbd2 Bf8 13. b4 Nbd7 14. a4 exd4
  3. +0.3710. d3 Nbd7 11. d4 c5 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. Nf1 a5 14. Bc2 Nb6

Other move orders

  • 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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nh4
  • 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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense?
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 Nb8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. d4 for White, continuing Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 g6 14. a4 c5. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 10. Bc2 (+0.40) and 10. d3 (+0.37).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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, Breyer Defense?
C94. 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+).