Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. c3
10… O-O+0.20
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line (C83), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… O-O for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.20).
Top engine moves
- +0.2010… O-O 11. h3 Qd7 12. Bc2 Rae8 13. a4 b4 14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Qxd7
- +0.4410… Qd7 11. Nd4 Rd8 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Nd2 Nxd2 14. Bxd2 O-O 15. f4
- +0.5610… Nc5 11. Bc2 Qd7 12. Be3 Bg4 13. Nbd2 Ne6 14. Qb1 Bh5 15. h4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3 d5 9. dxe5 Be6 10. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… O-O for Black, continuing 11. h3 Qd7 12. Bc2 Rae8 13. a4 b4 14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Qxd7. The position is roughly equal (+0.20). The next best moves are 10… Qd7 (+0.44) and 10… Nc5 (+0.56).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Classical Defense, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.20: the position is roughly equal. 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, Main Line?
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+).