Ruy Lopez: Open, St. Petersburg 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 Bc5 10. Nbd2
10… O-O+0.42
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Ruy Lopez: Open, St. Petersburg Variation (C82), 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 Bc5 10. Nbd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… O-O for Black. White is slightly better (+0.42).
Top engine moves
- +0.4210… O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 f6 14. Nf1 fxe5 15. Kg1
- +0.5910… Bb6 11. Bc2 Bf5 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. Qe2 Bxc2 14. Qxc2 Qd7 15. Re1
- +0.6210… Qd7 11. Qe2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 O-O 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, St. Petersburg 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 Bc5 10. Nbd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… O-O for Black, continuing 11. Bc2 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 f6 14. Nf1 fxe5 15. Kg1. White is slightly better (+0.42). The next best moves are 10… Bb6 (+0.59) and 10… Qd7 (+0.62).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, St. Petersburg Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.42: white 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, St. Petersburg Variation?
C82. 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+).