ECO C96 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit

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 d5

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

11. d4+0.65

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit (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 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.65).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6511. d4 dxe4 12. Nxe5 c5 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Nd2 Rc8 15. Qb1 cxd4
  2. +0.6211. exd5 e4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Rxe4 Re8 14. d3 Qxd5 15. Qe2 Qd7
  3. +0.1511. Nxe5 dxe4 12. a4 b4 13. d4 exd3 14. Nxd3 b3 15. Bxb3 Nxb3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit?
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 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. d4 for White, continuing dxe4 12. Nxe5 c5 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Nd2 Rc8 15. Qb1 cxd4. White is slightly better (+0.65). The next best moves are 11. exd5 (+0.62) and 11. Nxe5 (+0.15).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense, Gajewski Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.65: 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, Gajewski Gambit?
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+).