ECO C60 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5

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

4. Ba4+0.94

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense (C60), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Ba4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.94).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.944. Ba4 c6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. O-O Ne7
  2. +0.914. Nc3 a6 5. Be2 d6 6. d4 Nc6 7. d5 Nce7 8. a4 c6
  3. +0.884. d4 exd4 5. O-O a6 6. Be2 d6 7. Nxd4 c5 8. Nf5 g6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Ba4 for White, continuing c6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. O-O Ne7. White is clearly better (+0.94). The next best moves are 4. Nc3 (+0.91) and 4. d4 (+0.88).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Pollock Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.94: 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: Pollock Defense?
C60. 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+).