ECO C65 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Halloween Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nxe5

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

4… Nxe5−1.82

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Halloween Attack (C65), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nxe5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nxe5 for Black. Black is winning (−1.82).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.824… Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. O-O c6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. c3 a5 9. Qc2
  2. −0.154… Nd4 5. Be2 Qe7 6. Nf3 Nxe2 7. Qxe2 Qxe4 8. Qxe4+ Nxe4 9. d3
  3. −0.094… Qe7 5. Nf3 Qxe4+ 6. Be2 Nd4 7. Nxd4 Qxd4 8. c3 Qb6 9. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Halloween Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nxe5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nxe5 for Black, continuing 5. d4 Ng6 6. O-O c6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. c3 a5 9. Qc2. Black is winning (−1.82). The next best moves are 4… Nd4 (−0.15) and 4… Qe7 (−0.09).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Halloween Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.82: black is winning. 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: Halloween Attack?
C65. 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+).