Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line
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+0.34
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line (C80), 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. c3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.34).
Top engine moves
- +0.349. c3 Be7 10. Re1 Bc5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Rxe3 Na5 13. Nbd2 Nxd2
- +0.309. Be3 Bc5 10. Bxc5 Nxc5 11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Nc3 O-O-O 13. Re1 h5
- +0.309. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Nxc5 dxc2
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line?
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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. c3 for White, continuing Be7 10. Re1 Bc5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Rxe3 Na5 13. Nbd2 Nxd2. White is slightly better (+0.34). The next best moves are 9. Be3 (+0.30) and 9. Nbd2 (+0.30).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.34: 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, Main Line?
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+).