Ruy Lopez: Closed, Pilnik Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 d6 9. c3
9… Na5+0.34
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Pilnik Variation (C90), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 d6 9. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Na5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.34).
Top engine moves
- +0.349… Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. h3 Re8 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 exd4 14. Nxd4
- +0.359… Bb7 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. d4 Bf8 12. h3 h6 13. Bc2 g6 14. a3
- +0.359… Re8 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. d4 Bf8 12. h3 h6 13. Bc2 g6 14. a3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Pilnik Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 d6 9. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Na5 for Black, continuing 10. Bc2 c5 11. h3 Re8 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 exd4 14. Nxd4. White is slightly better (+0.34). The next best moves are 9… Bb7 (+0.35) and 9… Re8 (+0.35).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Pilnik Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.34: 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, Pilnik Variation?
C90. 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+).