ECO C80 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5

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

7. Bxc6++1.58

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth Gambit (C80), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bxc6+ for White. White is clearly better (+1.58).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.587. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. d3 Nf6 9. Nxe5 Be6 10. Nxc6 Qd7 11. Ne5 Qc8
  2. +0.727. c4 Bg4 8. d3 Nc5 9. Rxe5+ Be7 10. cxd5 Nxa4 11. dxc6 b5
  3. +0.647. Nc3 Qd6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Rxe4 f6 11. d4 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bxc6+ for White, continuing bxc6 8. d3 Nf6 9. Nxe5 Be6 10. Nxc6 Qd7 11. Ne5 Qc8. White is clearly better (+1.58). The next best moves are 7. c4 (+0.72) and 7. Nc3 (+0.64).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Skipworth Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.58: 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, Skipworth Gambit?
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+).