ECO C83 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense

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 Be7

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

10. Be3+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense (C83), reached after 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 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3710. Be3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Qd7 12. Re1 Rad8 13. Bc2 Bf5 14. h3 Nxd2
  2. +0.3710. Nbd2 Nc5 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Nxc5 dxc2 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8
  3. +0.3210. h3 O-O 11. Bc2 Bf5 12. Be3 Qd7 13. Re1 Rfe8 14. Nbd2 Nxd2

Other move orders

  • 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. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense?
After 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 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Be3 for White, continuing O-O 11. Nbd2 Qd7 12. Re1 Rad8 13. Bc2 Bf5 14. h3 Nxd2. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 10. Nbd2 (+0.37) and 10. h3 (+0.32).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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, Classical Defense?
C83. 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+).