ECO C60 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5

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

4. Nxe5+1.29

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit (C60), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nxe5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.294. Nxe5 Ne7 5. Nc3 dxe4 6. O-O Qd4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Ba4 Bf5
  2. +1.184. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qd6 6. O-O Ne7 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7
  3. +1.084. Qe2 a6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. Nxe5 Qg5 7. f4 Qh4+ 8. g3 Qh3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nxe5 for White, continuing Ne7 5. Nc3 dxe4 6. O-O Qd4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Ba4 Bf5. White is clearly better (+1.29). The next best moves are 4. exd5 (+1.18) and 4. Qe2 (+1.08).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.29: 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: Spanish Countergambit?
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+).