Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
9,414 games: White 58.3% / Draw 7.2% / Black 34.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 7,5387,538 | ||
| 1,8461,846 | ||
| 2323 | ||
| 66 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.41 White is slightly better
Best play: 7... Bxc6 8. Re1 exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Nf5 Bd7 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. a4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Showalter Variation (ECO C66, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Hedgehog Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6 (7 moves).
In 9,414 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 58.3%, Black 34.5% and 7.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Bxc6, in 80% 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, Closed Showalter Variation
The most played answer, 7…Bxc6, also scores best for Black: 40.8%, with Black winning 36.8% and White 55.2% of 7,538 games. Of the main answers, 7…bxc6 scores lowest: 27.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…Bxc6.
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, Closed Showalter Variation (C66)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-berlin-defense-closed-showalter-variation