ECO C81 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack

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. Qe2

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

9… Nc5+0.18

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack (C81), 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. Qe2, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Nc5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.18).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.189… Nc5 10. Rd1 Nxb3 11. axb3 Be7 12. c4 b4 13. Nbd2 O-O 14. Nf1
  2. +0.199… Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c3 Qd7 12. Nbd2 f5 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. a4
  3. +0.309… Qd7 10. Rd1 Na5 11. Nbd2 Nxb3 12. axb3 Nxd2 13. Bxd2 Be7 14. b4

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. Qe2 Be7 10. c4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack?
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. Qe2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Nc5 for Black, continuing 10. Rd1 Nxb3 11. axb3 Be7 12. c4 b4 13. Nbd2 O-O 14. Nf1. The position is roughly equal (+0.18). The next best moves are 9… Be7 (+0.19) and 9… Qd7 (+0.30).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.18: 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, Howell Attack?
C81. 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+).