Ruy Lopez: Open, Italian 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+0.50
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Open, Italian 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Nbd2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.50).
Top engine moves
- +0.5010. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Bf5 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Nfd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 a5
- +0.3310. Bc2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 f6 14. Kg1 fxe5
- +0.3210. Qe2 O-O 11. Be3 Re8 12. Rd1 f6 13. Nbd2 Nxd2 14. Rxd2 Bxe3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Italian 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Nbd2 for White, continuing O-O 11. Bc2 Bf5 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Nfd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 a5. White is slightly better (+0.50). The next best moves are 10. Bc2 (+0.33) and 10. Qe2 (+0.32).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Italian Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.50: 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, Italian 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+).