Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom 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. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Qd7
13. Nc3+0.44
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation (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 Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Qd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 13. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.44).
Top engine moves
- +0.4413. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Na5 16. Bxa6 Bg4 17. Bd3 Qa4
- +0.1613. Bf4 f6 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 fxe5 17. Nxe5 Qd6
- +0.0413. h3 f6 14. Qxe4 dxe4 15. Rxd7 Bxc4 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Bd3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom 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. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Qd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 13. Nc3 for White, continuing Nxc3 14. bxc3 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Na5 16. Bxa6 Bg4 17. Bd3 Qa4. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 13. Bf4 (+0.16) and 13. h3 (+0.04).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: 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, Howell Attack, Ekstrom Variation?
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+).