Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
11,923 games: White 53.9% / Draw 4.1% / Black 42.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,8174,817 | ||
| 3,7233,723 | ||
| 793793 | ||
| 634634 | ||
| 439439 | ||
| 370370 | ||
| 225225 | ||
| 169169 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.92 White is better
Best play: 6. d3 c6 7. Ba4 d5 8. Re1 Be6 9. Nd2 a5 10. Qh5 Qd7
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation (ECO C61, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Bird Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O Ne7 (5 moves).
In 11,923 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.9%, Black 42.0% and 4.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. d3, in 40% 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: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation
The most played answer, 6. d3, also scores best for White: 57.7%, with White winning 55.4% and Black 40.1% of 4,817 games. Of the main answers, 6. Re1 scores lowest: 51.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. d3.
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: Bird Variation, Paulsen Variation (C61)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-bird-variation-paulsen-variation