ECO C84 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3

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

6… b5+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation (C84), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… b5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.306… b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Re1 d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. h3
  2. +0.356… d6 7. c3 O-O 8. h3 b5 9. Bb3 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. a4
  3. +0.746… Bd6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1 Re8 9. d4 b5 10. Bc2 Bb7 11. Nbd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… b5 for Black, continuing 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Re1 d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. h3. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 6… d6 (+0.35) and 6… Bd6 (+0.74).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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, Martinez Variation?
C84. 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+).