ECO C96 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres 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 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7

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

12. Nbd2+0.68

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense (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 c5 11. d4 Nd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Nbd2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.68).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6812. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 Re8 14. d5 Bf6 15. Rb1 Ne5 16. b3 Nb7
  2. +0.5412. a4 exd4 13. axb5 axb5 14. cxd4 b4 15. Nbd2 Bb7 16. Nf1 b3
  3. +0.4612. Qe2 Qc7 13. d5 Nb6 14. b3 Bd7 15. Rd1 Bd8 16. Be3 c4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres 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 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Nbd2 for White, continuing exd4 13. cxd4 Re8 14. d5 Bf6 15. Rb1 Ne5 16. b3 Nb7. White is slightly better (+0.68). The next best moves are 12. a4 (+0.54) and 12. Qe2 (+0.46).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Keres Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.68: 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, Keres Defense?
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+).