ECO C60 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. Nc3 g6

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

5. d4+0.70

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation (C60), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.705. d4 exd4 6. Nd5 Bg7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bf6 Bxf6 9. Nxf6+ Kf8
  2. +0.375. Bxc6 Nxc6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Ne5
  3. +0.285. h4 Nd4 6. Nxe5 Bg7 7. Nf3 Nxb5 8. Nxb5 d5 9. d3 Bg4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. d4 for White, continuing exd4 6. Nd5 Bg7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bf6 Bxf6 9. Nxf6+ Kf8. White is slightly better (+0.70). The next best moves are 5. Bxc6 (+0.37) and 5. h4 (+0.28).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Cozio Defense, Paulsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.70: 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, Paulsen Variation?
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+).