ECO C89 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Modern Main Line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3

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

15. Re4+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Modern Main Line (C89), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3, Stockfish 18 recommends 15. Re4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5415. Re4 Qf5 16. Bc2 Qg6 17. Re1 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Nd2 Rfe8
  2. +0.1915. Qe2 Bg4 16. Qf1 Rae8 17. Rxe8 Qxf1+ 18. Kxf1 Rxe8 19. Bd2 h5
  3. +0.0615. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 h6 18. Qf1 Qh5 19. a4 Re6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Modern Main Line?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 15. Re4 for White, continuing Qf5 16. Bc2 Qg6 17. Re1 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Nd2 Rfe8. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 15. Qe2 (+0.19) and 15. Be3 (+0.06).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Marshall Attack, Modern Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: 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: Marshall Attack, Modern Main Line?
C89. 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+).