ECO C74 · Ruy Lopez

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5

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

6. d4+0.58

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Siesta Variation (C74), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.58).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.586. d4 fxe4 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8. Qh5+ Kd7 9. d5 b5 10. dxc6+ Kxc6
  2. +0.576. exf5 Bxf5 7. O-O Bd3 8. Qb3 Rb8 9. Re1 Be7 10. Qd5 Bf5
  3. +0.146. d3 Nf6 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. Bb3 Na5 9. Bc2 Nc6 10. O-O fxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Siesta Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. d4 for White, continuing fxe4 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8. Qh5+ Kd7 9. d5 b5 10. dxc6+ Kxc6. White is slightly better (+0.58). The next best moves are 6. exf5 (+0.57) and 6. d3 (+0.14).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense, Siesta Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.58: 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, Siesta Variation?
C74. 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+).