ECO C79 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6

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

6. Re1+0.41

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred (C79), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Re1 for White. White is slightly better (+0.41).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.416. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 Be7 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. d4 Bxb3
  2. +0.366. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 c5 9. Nc6 Qd7 10. Na5 Qb5
  3. +0.326. c3 Nxe4 7. d4 Bd7 8. Re1 Nf6 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 Nxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Re1 for White, continuing b5 7. Bb3 Be7 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. d4 Bxb3. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 6. Bxc6+ (+0.36) and 6. c3 (+0.32).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: 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, Steinitz Deferred?
C79. 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+).