ECO C60 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Retreat Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8

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

4. d4+1.22

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Retreat Variation (C60), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.22).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.224. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 dxc3 7. Nxc3 Bc5 8. Bg5 f6
  2. +1.044. Ba4 c6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qb6 7. Qe5+ Be7 8. Bb3 Nf6
  3. +1.044. O-O c6 5. Bc4 d6 6. d4 Nd7 7. c3 Qc7 8. Re1 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Retreat Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing exd4 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 dxc3 7. Nxc3 Bc5 8. Bg5 f6. White is clearly better (+1.22). The next best moves are 4. Ba4 (+1.04) and 4. O-O (+1.04).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Retreat Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.22: 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: Retreat Variation?
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+).