Ruy Lopez: Open, Malkin 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 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qe2
11… Nc5+0.07
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Open, Malkin Variation (C83), 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 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qe2, Stockfish 18 recommends 11… Nc5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.07).
Top engine moves
- +0.0711… Nc5 12. Rd1 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Bc2 f6 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Nb3
- +0.1411… Bf5 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 c5 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Be3
- +0.5811… Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Qd7 13. Rad1 Na5 14. Bc2 Bf5 15. Bxf5 Qxf5 16. Nd4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Malkin 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 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qe2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11… Nc5 for Black, continuing 12. Rd1 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Bc2 f6 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Nb3. The position is roughly equal (+0.07). The next best moves are 11… Bf5 (+0.14) and 11… Nxd2 (+0.58).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Malkin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.07: 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, Malkin Variation?
C83. 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+).