ECO C88 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Trajkovic Counterattack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7

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

8. d4+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Trajkovic Counterattack (C88), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.558. d4 d6 9. c3 O-O 10. Nbd2 exd4 11. cxd4 Nb4 12. Qe2 c5
  2. +0.438. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf4 12. d4 Nxg2
  3. +0.298. a4 O-O 9. d3 d6 10. c3 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. d4 exd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Trajkovic Counterattack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. d4 for White, continuing d6 9. c3 O-O 10. Nbd2 exd4 11. cxd4 Nb4 12. Qe2 c5. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 8. c3 (+0.43) and 8. a4 (+0.29).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Trajkovic Counterattack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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, Trajkovic Counterattack?
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+).