Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev System
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 Re8
10. d4+0.56
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev System (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 Re8, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.56).
Top engine moves
- +0.5610. d4 h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Ne4
- +0.5110. Ng5 Rf8 11. d4 h6 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. Nf1 exd4
- +0.2810. a4 Bb7 11. d4 h6 12. Bc2 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bf8 14. Nd2 Nxd4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev System?
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 Re8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. d4 for White, continuing h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Ne4. White is slightly better (+0.56). The next best moves are 10. Ng5 (+0.51) and 10. a4 (+0.28).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Zaitsev System a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.56: 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, Zaitsev System?
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+).