Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates 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 O-O 9. d4
9… Bg4+0.29
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation (C91), 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. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Bg4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.29).
Top engine moves
- +0.299… Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. h3 cxd4 14. Bxd4
- +0.369… Re8 10. h3 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 Na5 13. Bc2 h6 14. b3
- +0.549… exd4 10. cxd4 Bg4 11. Nc3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5
Variations
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates 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 O-O 9. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Bg4 for Black, continuing 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. h3 cxd4 14. Bxd4. The position is roughly equal (+0.29). The next best moves are 9… Re8 (+0.36) and 9… exd4 (+0.54).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Yates Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.29: the position is roughly equal. 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, Yates Variation?
C91. 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+).