ECO C79 · Ruy Lopez

Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred, Lipnitsky Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 Bg4

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

8. dxe5+0.50

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred, Lipnitsky Variation (C79), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. dxe5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.50).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.508. dxe5 Nxe4 9. h3 Bh5 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. Qe2 f5 12. Qc4 Qf6
  2. +0.418. Nbd2 exd4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 c5 11. e5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 Bd6
  3. +0.368. c3 exd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Qd7 12. Re1 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred, Lipnitsky Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. dxe5 for White, continuing Nxe4 9. h3 Bh5 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. Qe2 f5 12. Qc4 Qf6. White is slightly better (+0.50). The next best moves are 8. Nbd2 (+0.41) and 8. c3 (+0.36).
Is the Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred, Lipnitsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.50: white 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: Steinitz Defense Deferred, Lipnitsky Variation?
C79. 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+).