ECO C77 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. c3

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

5… Nxe4−0.34

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit (C77), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Nxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.34).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.345… Nxe4 6. O-O Nc5 7. Bc2 d5 8. d4 e4 9. dxc5 exf3 10. Qxf3
  2. −0.315… b5 6. Bc2 d5 7. d3 dxe4 8. dxe4 Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Be6 10. Nbd2
  3. +0.055… Be7 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 Nd5 8. cxd4 d6 9. Nc3 Be6 10. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Nxe4 for Black, continuing 6. O-O Nc5 7. Bc2 d5 8. d4 e4 9. dxc5 exf3 10. Qxf3. Black is slightly better (−0.34). The next best moves are 5… b5 (−0.31) and 5… Be7 (+0.05).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Jaffe Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.34: black 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, Jaffe Gambit?
C77. 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+).