Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
26,156 games: White 47.1% / Draw 6.8% / Black 46.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Minckwitz Variation | 9,3549,354 | |
| 8,4758,475 | ||
| 4,1944,194 | ||
| 1,9311,931 | ||
| 1,4981,498 | ||
| 610610 | ||
| 4141 | ||
| 2020 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.29 The position is about equal
Best play: 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bc5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation (ECO C67, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit Accepted, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 (5 moves).
In 26,156 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.1%, Black 46.1% and 6.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. dxe5, in 36% of those games.
It branches into 7 named variations; the most played are Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Minckwitz Variation and Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation.
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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation
6. Qe2 scores best for White: 61.3%, with White winning 57.3% and Black 34.7% of 1,498 games. The most played, 6. dxe5, scores 49.7% in 9,354 games, and 6. Bxc6 scores lowest: 46.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Qe2.
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
Variations (7)
- C67 Berlin Defense, Cordel Variation 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nf5
- C67 Berlin Defense, Minckwitz Variation 6. dxe5
- C67 Berlin Defense, Pillsbury Variation 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. b3
- C67 Rio de Janeiro Variation 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c5
- C67 Berlin Defense, Trifunovic Variation 6. Qe2 d5
- C67 Berlin Defense, Winawer Attack 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4
- C67 Berlin Defense, Zukertort Variation 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. c4
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Rio de Janeiro Variation (C67)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-berlin-defense-rio-de-janeiro-variation