Tree path 8 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Berlin Defense › Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense › Improved Steinitz Defense › Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Wolf Variation
- Caissa Codex
- King's Pawn Game C20
- King's Knight Opening C40
- Normal Variation C44
- Ruy Lopez C60
- Berlin Defense C65
- Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense C65
- Improved Steinitz Defense C66
- Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Wolf Variation C66 you are here
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Wolf Variation
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Closed Wolf Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C66), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
It begins with 12 plies and takes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 exd4 to reach the canonical position.
The line refines Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Improved Steinitz Defense, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- C66
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 12
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
68,118 games · White 54.2% / Draw 6.3% / Black 39.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd4 | 62,308 | |
| Bxc6 | 5,169 | |
| Nd5 | 511 | |
| Ne2 | 46 | |
| e5 | 41 | |
| Qxd4 | 16 | |
| Bg5 | 7 | |
| Re1 | 6 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:41:00
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.