ECO C70 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5

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

6. c3+0.71

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation (C70), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. c3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.71).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.716. c3 Nge7 7. a4 Bb7 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. dxe5 Qe8
  2. +0.446. O-O Nf6 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. f4 c5
  3. +0.396. a4 Bb7 7. d3 Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Bd5 Nxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. c3 for White, continuing Nge7 7. a4 Bb7 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. dxe5 Qe8. White is slightly better (+0.71). The next best moves are 6. O-O (+0.44) and 6. a4 (+0.39).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Graz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.71: 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, Graz Variation?
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+).