ECO C60 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7

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

4. Nc3+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense (C60), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.574. Nc3 Ng6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 c6 8. Be2 Qb6
  2. +0.524. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Nxc6 dxc6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bc4 Ke8
  3. +0.474. O-O g6 5. c3 Bg7 6. d4 a6 7. Bc4 b5 8. Bb3 exd4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White, continuing Ng6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 c6 8. Be2 Qb6. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+0.52) and 4. O-O (+0.47).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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: Cozio Defense?
C60. 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+).