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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).