ECO C78 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6 7. Ng5 d5 8. exd5 Nd4 9. Re1 Bc5 10. Rxe5+ Kf8

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

11. c3−0.38

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich Variation (C78), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6 7. Ng5 d5 8. exd5 Nd4 9. Re1 Bc5 10. Rxe5+ Kf8, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. c3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.3811. c3 Nxb3 12. Qxb3 Bxf2+ 13. Kh1 Ng4 14. d4 Nxe5 15. dxe5 h6
  2. −0.5411. Re3 Ng4 12. Ne4 Qh4 13. Rh3 Qe7 14. Nbc3 Nxf2 15. Nxf2 Bxh3
  3. −0.8711. d6 Nxb3 12. axb3 Qxd6 13. Rxc5 Qxc5 14. d4 Qc6 15. Qf3 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 d6 7. Ng5 d5 8. exd5 Nd4 9. Re1 Bc5 10. Rxe5+ Kf8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. c3 for White, continuing Nxb3 12. Qxb3 Bxf2+ 13. Kh1 Ng4 14. d4 Nxe5 15. dxe5 h6. Black is slightly better (−0.38). The next best moves are 11. Re3 (−0.54) and 11. d6 (−0.87).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Rabinovich Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.38: black 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: Rabinovich Variation?
C78. 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+).