C65

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Duras Variation

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Duras Variation after 5. c4

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

6,852 games: White 48.2% / Draw 5.6% / Black 46.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,3102,310
2,1492,149
949949
857857
305305
242242
2727
33

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 5... g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. h3 Nd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. Ne2

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Duras Variation (ECO C65, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. c4 (5 moves).

In 6,852 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.2%, Black 46.2% and 5.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Be7, in 34% of those games.

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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Duras Variation

5…Bg4 scores best for Black: 51.1%, with Black winning 49.1% and White 46.9% of 857 games. The most played, 5…Be7, scores 50.8% in 2,310 games, and 5…a6 scores lowest: 44.8%. Stockfish's first choice is 5…g6.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Duras Variation (C65)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-berlin-defense-anti-berlin-variation-duras-variation