ECO C84 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center Attack, 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 dxc3

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

9. Nxc3−0.46

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center Attack, 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 dxc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Nxc3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.469. Nxc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Re1 d6 12. Bf4 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxd1
  2. −0.719. Re1 cxb2 10. Bxb2 Nc5 11. Nc3 b5 12. Bb3 Nxb3 13. axb3 O-O
  3. −0.799. Nd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 cxb2 11. Bxb2 Ng5 12. Nc3 b5 13. Bb3 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center Attack, 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 dxc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Nxc3 for White, continuing Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Re1 d6 12. Bf4 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxd1. Black is slightly better (−0.46). The next best moves are 9. Re1 (−0.71) and 9. Nd4 (−0.79).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Center Attack, Basque Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.46: 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, Center Attack, 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+).