Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
2,303 games: White 52.0% / Draw 5.1% / Black 42.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,3461,346 | ||
| 415415 | ||
| 182182 | ||
| 177177 | ||
| 8383 | ||
| 3737 | ||
| 3030 | ||
| 99 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.75 White is better
Best play: 6. Nxe5 Qe7 7. d4 f6 8. Nf3 Qxe4+ 9. Be3 Ne7 10. O-O Bg4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit (ECO C60, Open Games) is a gambit in the Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4 4. c3 Ba5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 (5 moves).
In 2,303 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.0%, Black 42.9% and 5.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nxe5, in 58% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit
The most played answer, 6. Nxe5, also scores best for White: 55.6%, with White winning 53.3% and Black 42.1% of 1,346 games. Of the main answers, 6. b4 scores lowest: 47.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Nxe5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Alapin Defense, Alapin Gambit (C60)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-alapin-defense-alapin-gambit