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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).