Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Trap
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Statistics from Lichess
31,476 games: White 33.4% / Draw 3.2% / Black 63.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 15,85916K | ||
| 12,32012K | ||
| 2,4702,470 | ||
| 576576 | ||
| 7272 | ||
| 7171 | ||
| 3232 | ||
| 3030 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
−2.26 Black is clearly better
Best play: 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Ba4 d5 8. Bb3 a5 9. a4 g6 10. Nc3 Bg7
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, Mortimer Trap (ECO C65, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nxe5 c6 (5 moves).
In 31,476 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 33.4%, Black 63.4% and 3.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Ba4, in 50% 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: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Trap
6. Nxf7 scores best for White: 42.5%, with White winning 40.4% and Black 55.4% of 2,470 games. The most played, 6. Ba4, scores 35.5% in 16K games, and 6. Bc4 scores lowest: 32.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Nxf7.
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: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Mortimer Trap (C65)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-berlin-defense-anti-berlin-variation-mortimer-trap