Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Modern Main Line
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Statistics from Lichess
16,130 games: White 43.2% / Draw 6.9% / Black 49.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 9,5299,529 | ||
| 5,5825,582 | ||
| 607607 | ||
| 106106 | ||
| 8080 | ||
| 6464 | ||
| 5959 | ||
| 5353 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.44 White is slightly better
Best play: 7... d6 8. a4 a5 9. Bh4 exd4 10. cxd4 Ne7 11. Nc3 c6 12. Bxf6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation, Modern Main Line (ECO C64, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 (7 moves).
In 16,130 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.2%, Black 49.9% and 6.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…h6, in 59% 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: Classical Variation, Modern Main Line
7…d6 scores best for Black: 56.6%, with Black winning 52.8% and White 39.7% of 5,582 games. The most played answer, 7…h6, scores lowest: 52.4% in 9,529 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…d6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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: Classical Variation, Modern Main Line (C64)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-classical-variation-modern-main-line