ECO C76 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 d6 6. d4 Bd7

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

7. d5+0.53

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation (C76), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 d6 6. d4 Bd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.53).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.537. d5 Nb8 8. Bc2 Bg7 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. b4 c6
  2. +0.467. Bg5 Be7 8. Be3 Nf6 9. d5 Nb8 10. Bc2 c6 11. O-O cxd5
  3. +0.427. O-O Nf6 8. Nbd2 b5 9. Bc2 Bg7 10. Re1 O-O 11. a3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 d6 6. d4 Bd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. d5 for White, continuing Nb8 8. Bc2 Bg7 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. b4 c6. White is slightly better (+0.53). The next best moves are 7. Bg5 (+0.46) and 7. O-O (+0.42).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.53: 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, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation?
C76. 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+).