ECO C83 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Open, Tarrasch Trap

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 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Rxe4

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

13… Rf7+3.19

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Open, Tarrasch Trap (C83), 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 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Rxe4, Stockfish 18 recommends 13… Rf7 for Black. White is winning (+3.19).

Top engine moves

  1. +3.1913… Rf7 14. Re2 Raf8 15. f3 Rf5 16. Nd2 Nxe5 17. Bc2 Rh5 18. Nf1
  2. +3.3013… Bc5 14. Be3 Qe7 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Re2 Nxe5 17. Qd2 Nc4 18. Bxc4
  3. +3.3013… a5 14. Re2 a4 15. Bc2 Qe8 16. Qd3 Qh5 17. Nd2 Bc5 18. Nf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Open, Tarrasch Trap?
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 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Rxe4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 13… Rf7 for Black, continuing 14. Re2 Raf8 15. f3 Rf5 16. Nd2 Nxe5 17. Bc2 Rh5 18. Nf1. White is winning (+3.19). The next best moves are 13… Bc5 (+3.30) and 13… a5 (+3.30).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Open, Tarrasch Trap a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +3.19: white is winning. 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, Tarrasch Trap?
C83. 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+).