ECO C60 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxc6

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

5… Qxg2−0.40

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit (C60), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Qxg2 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.405… Qxg2 6. Nd4+ c6 7. Qf3 Qxf3 8. Nxf3 dxe4 9. Nd4 cxb5 10. Nxb5
  2. +1.055… a6 6. Bf1 bxc6 7. Nc3 Qg6 8. Qf3 Bc5 9. d3 Nf6 10. Qg3
  3. +2.245… Bd7 6. Nd4 Bxb5 7. Nxb5 Qxg2 8. Rf1 O-O-O 9. d4 a6 10. N5c3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d5 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Qxg2 for Black, continuing 6. Nd4+ c6 7. Qf3 Qxf3 8. Nxf3 dxe4 9. Nd4 cxb5 10. Nxb5. Black is slightly better (−0.40). The next best moves are 5… a6 (+1.05) and 5… Bd7 (+2.24).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.40: 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: Spanish Countergambit, Harding Gambit?
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+).