ECO C78 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Arkhangelsk Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7

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

7. d3+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Arkhangelsk Variation (C78), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. d3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.407. d3 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bd2 Na5 10. Nxe5 Nxb3 11. axb3 d5
  2. +0.387. Re1 Bc5 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nbd2 h6
  3. +0.377. Nc3 Bc5 8. d3 O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nd5 Qd8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Arkhangelsk Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. d3 for White, continuing Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bd2 Na5 10. Nxe5 Nxb3 11. axb3 d5. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 7. Re1 (+0.38) and 7. Nc3 (+0.37).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Arkhangelsk Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: 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, Arkhangelsk Variation?
C78. 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+).