ECO C78 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5

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

7. Nc3+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation (C78), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.317. Nc3 O-O 8. d3 Bb7 9. a3 Nd4 10. Nxe5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 Re8
  2. +0.287. c3 d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. h3 O-O 10. Be3 Bb7 11. d5 Na5
  3. +0.247. a4 Bb7 8. d3 O-O 9. axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8 Bxa8 11. Nc3 b4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Nc3 for White, continuing O-O 8. d3 Bb7 9. a3 Nd4 10. Nxe5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 Re8. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 7. c3 (+0.28) and 7. a4 (+0.24).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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, Neo-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+).