ECO C70 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense

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

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

4. Ba4+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (C70), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Ba4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.374. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6
  2. +0.104. Bc4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. c3 Ba7 8. b4 h6
  3. +0.054. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. d3 Qf6 8. Nbd2 Ne7

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Ba4 for White, continuing Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 4. Bc4 (+0.10) and 4. Bxc6 (+0.05).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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: Morphy Defense?
C70. 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+).