ECO C68 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6

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

4… dxc6−0.24

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation (C68), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… dxc6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.24).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.244… dxc6 5. Nc3 f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 Qxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Be3
  2. +0.414… bxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 d6 7. O-O Ne7 8. Re1 Ng6
  3. +3.604… Nf6 5. Ba4 Nxe4 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O Nc5 8. Re1+ Be7 9. Bb3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… dxc6 for Black, continuing 5. Nc3 f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 Qxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Be3. The position is roughly equal (−0.24). The next best moves are 4… bxc6 (+0.41) and 4… Nf6 (+3.60).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.24: 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: Exchange Variation?
C68. 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+).