ECO C80 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Knorre Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Nc3

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

6… Nxc3−0.45

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Knorre Variation (C80), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Nxc3 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.456… Nxc3 7. bxc3 Be7 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nxe5 Be6 10. Re1 Bd6 11. a4
  2. −0.126… Nc5 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Nd7 9. Nf3 Be7 10. d4 Nb6 11. Re1
  3. −0.066… Nf6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Be7 9. Nf5 O-O 10. Nxe7+ Nxe7 11. Bg5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Knorre Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Nxc3 for Black, continuing 7. bxc3 Be7 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nxe5 Be6 10. Re1 Bd6 11. a4. Black is slightly better (−0.45). The next best moves are 6… Nc5 (−0.12) and 6… Nf6 (−0.06).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Knorre Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.45: black 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, Knorre Variation?
C80. 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+).