ECO C80 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4

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

6. d4+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open (C80), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.326. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5
  2. +0.126. Re1 Nc5 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Be6 9. d4 Nd7 10. Nd3 Bd6
  3. −0.136. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d4 Be7 8. Re1 Nf6 9. Nxe5 c5 10. Bg5 O-O

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. d4 for White, continuing b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 6. Re1 (+0.12) and 6. Bxc6 (−0.13).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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: Open?
C80. 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+).