ECO C80 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 exd4

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

7. Re1+1.08

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga Variation (C80), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 exd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Re1 for White. White is clearly better (+1.08).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.087. Re1 d5 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nxc6 Bxf2+ 10. Kf1 Qh4 11. Rxe4+ dxe4
  2. +0.347. Qe2 Qe7 8. Re1 Nc5 9. Qd1 Ne6 10. c3 b5 11. Bb3 d3
  3. +0.117. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Nc5 9. Re1+ Ne6 10. Nc3 b5 11. Bb3 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 exd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Re1 for White, continuing d5 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nxc6 Bxf2+ 10. Kf1 Qh4 11. Rxe4+ dxe4. White is clearly better (+1.08). The next best moves are 7. Qe2 (+0.34) and 7. Nxd4 (+0.11).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Riga Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.08: white is clearly 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, Riga 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+).