ECO C80 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Richter Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. d5

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

7… d6−0.66

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Richter Variation (C80), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… d6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.66).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.667… d6 8. dxc6 bxa4 9. c4 Be7 10. Re1 f5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3
  2. −0.657… bxa4 8. dxc6 d6 9. Re1 f5 10. c4 Be7 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3
  3. −0.607… Ne7 8. Re1 bxa4 9. Rxe4 d6 10. c4 g6 11. Qxa4+ Bd7 12. Qa3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Richter Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… d6 for Black, continuing 8. dxc6 bxa4 9. c4 Be7 10. Re1 f5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3. Black is slightly better (−0.66). The next best moves are 7… bxa4 (−0.65) and 7… Ne7 (−0.60).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Richter Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.66: 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, Richter 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+).