ECO C82 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth Variation

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 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2

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

12. Rxf2+0.42

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth Variation (C82), 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 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Rxf2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.42).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.4212. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 f6 14. Nf1 fxe5 15. Kg1 Qd6 16. Be3 h6
  2. −0.9012. Qe2 Nd1+ 13. Kh1 Ne3 14. Nb3 Nxc2 15. Bg5 Ne7 16. Qxc2 Bb6
  3. −2.8412. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 f6 15. Kg1 Kg8 16. Qe1 fxe5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth Variation?
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 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Rxf2 for White, continuing Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 f6 14. Nf1 fxe5 15. Kg1 Qd6 16. Be3 h6. White is slightly better (+0.42). The next best moves are 12. Qe2 (−0.90) and 12. Bxh7+ (−2.84).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.42: 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, Dilworth Variation?
C82. 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+).