ECO C88 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Leonhardt Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 Nc6 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nbd2 g5

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

14. a4+1.97

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Leonhardt Variation (C88), 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 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 Nc6 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nbd2 g5, Stockfish 18 recommends 14. a4 for White. White is winning (+1.97).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.9714. a4 Ra7 15. Nxg5 Rg8 16. h4 h6 17. Ngf3 Ng4 18. Nf1 Nd7
  2. +1.7514. Nxg5 Rg8 15. h4 Bg4 16. Ngf3 Nbd7 17. a4 b4 18. Nc4 a5
  3. +1.4514. Nh2 h5 15. a4 Ra7 16. Nhf1 h4 17. Ne3 Kf8 18. b3 Nh5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Leonhardt Variation?
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 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 Nc6 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nbd2 g5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 14. a4 for White, continuing Ra7 15. Nxg5 Rg8 16. h4 h6 17. Ngf3 Ng4 18. Nf1 Nd7. White is winning (+1.97). The next best moves are 14. Nxg5 (+1.75) and 14. Nh2 (+1.45).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Leonhardt Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.97: white is winning. 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, Leonhardt Variation?
C88. 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+).