ECO C97 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin 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 Na5

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

10. Bc2+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense (C97), 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Bc2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5510. Bc2 d5 11. d4 dxe4 12. Nxe5 c5 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Nd2 Bb7
  2. −0.0510. d4 Nxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Qc2 Re8 13. d5 c6 14. c4 Rc8
  3. −0.2210. d3 Nxb3 11. axb3 Re8 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bf8 14. Bg5 h6

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 Na5 10. Bc2
  • 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
  • 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 Qc7
  • 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 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6
  • 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 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. dxc5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin 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 Na5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Bc2 for White, continuing d5 11. d4 dxe4 12. Nxe5 c5 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Nd2 Bb7. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 10. d4 (−0.05) and 10. d3 (−0.22).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin 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, Chigorin Defense?
C97. 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+).