Ruy Lopez: Brentano Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
5,597 games: White 51.6% / Draw 4.4% / Black 44.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 2,0982,098 | ||
| 1,2201,220 | ||
| 778778 | ||
| 684684 | ||
| 493493 | ||
| 136136 | ||
| 126126 | ||
| 1616 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+2.45 White is clearly better
Even so, Black scores 46.2% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.
Best play: 4. d4 h6 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. dxe5 c6 7. Bc4 Ne7 8. Qf3 Rh7
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Brentano Gambit (ECO C60, Open Games) is a gambit in the Ruy Lopez, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g5 (3 moves).
In 5,597 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.6%, Black 44.0% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 4. Bxc6, in 37% 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: Brentano Gambit
4. d4 scores best for White: 60.9%, with White winning 58.5% and Black 36.8% of 1,220 games. The most played, 4. Bxc6, scores 53.2% in 2,098 games, and 4. d3 scores lowest: 49.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4. d4.
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: Brentano Gambit (C60)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-brentano-gambit