ECO C92 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov-Breyer-Zaitsev Hybrid

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 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 h6

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

13. Ba2+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov-Breyer-Zaitsev Hybrid (C92), 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 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 h6, Stockfish 18 recommends 13. Ba2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3813. Ba2 Nb8 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Bb1 g6 16. Nh4 Qe6 17. Qc2 Nh5
  2. +0.3713. Bc2 Nb8 14. b4 Nbd7 15. Bb2 a5 16. Qe2 c6 17. dxe5 dxe5
  3. +0.1013. Re2 Nb8 14. Bc2 Nbd7 15. a4 g6 16. Re1 exd4 17. cxd4 c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov-Breyer-Zaitsev Hybrid?
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 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 h6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 13. Ba2 for White, continuing Nb8 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Bb1 g6 16. Nh4 Qe6 17. Qc2 Nh5. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 13. Bc2 (+0.37) and 13. Re2 (+0.10).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Smyslov-Breyer-Zaitsev Hybrid a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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, Smyslov-Breyer-Zaitsev Hybrid?
C92. 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+).