Caissa Codex
C64

Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Konikowski Gambit

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Konikowski Gambit after 4…d5

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

15,803 games: White 52.5% / Draw 4.2% / Black 43.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
5,2625,262
5,0765,076
3,2053,205
1,0861,086
574574
260260
200200
6868

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+2.45 White is clearly better

Even so, Black scores 45.4% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.

Best play: 5. Nxe5 Qg5 6. O-O Qxe5 7. d4 Qe6 8. dxc5 Nf6 9. Bf4 dxe4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Konikowski Gambit (ECO C64, Open Games) is a gambit in the Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Central Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 d5 (4 moves).

In 15,803 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.5%, Black 43.3% and 4.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Nxe5, in 33% of those games.

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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Konikowski Gambit

The most played answer, 5. Nxe5, also scores best for White: 63.4%, with White winning 61.7% and Black 34.8% of 5,262 games. Of the main answers, 5. exd5 scores lowest: 46.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. Nxe5.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4…d5, the position after Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Central Variation also goes on to:

Transpositions

This position is also reached from these lines, by another move order:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Konikowski Gambit (C64)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-classical-variation-konikowski-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-classical-variation-konikowski-gambit