Tree path 9 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Berlin Defense › Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense › Beverwijk Variation › Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit › Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation
C64

Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation

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Overview

Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C64.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6, after 12 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

It continues primarily into one named line, Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Modern Main Line.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
C64
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
12
Parent
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Zukertort Gambit
Direct variations
1

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

57,730 games · White 42.3% / Draw 5.9% / Black 51.7%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Bg516,102
Re114,908
d59,821
dxe59,281
Bxc65,345
a4592
Nxe5394
Qd3366

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:40:57

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Variations (1)