ECO C97 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System

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 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6

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

15. Bd2+0.66

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System (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 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 15. Bd2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.66).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6615. Bd2 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 18. Bc3 Bf8 19. Qd2 Bg7
  2. +0.6115. b3 Bf8 16. d5 Bh6 17. c4 Nh5 18. Nh2 bxc4 19. Bd2 Reb8
  3. +0.3815. Qd2 Bf8 16. b3 Bg7 17. d5 c4 18. b4 Nb7 19. a4 bxa4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System?
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 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 15. Bd2 for White, continuing cxd4 16. cxd4 Nc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 18. Bc3 Bf8 19. Qd2 Bg7. White is slightly better (+0.66). The next best moves are 15. b3 (+0.61) and 15. Qd2 (+0.38).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin, Yugoslav System a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.66: 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, Yugoslav System?
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+).