Caissa Codex
C66

Ruy Lopez: Closed Berlin Defense, Chigorin Variation

Chess diagram: Ruy Lopez: Closed Berlin Defense, Chigorin Variation after 5…Nd7

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Statistics from Lichess

437 games: White 48.5% / Draw 6.6% / Black 44.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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5353
2828
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.77 White is better

Best play: 6. c3 a6 7. Ba4 Be7 8. Bc2 O-O 9. Be3 exd4 10. cxd4 d5

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

Overview

Ruy Lopez: Closed Berlin Defense, Chigorin Variation (ECO C66, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Improved Steinitz Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Nd7 (5 moves).

In 437 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.5%, Black 44.9% and 6.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Bxc6, in 33% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5. d4 Nd7, the position after Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Improved Steinitz Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Ruy Lopez: Closed Berlin Defense, Chigorin Variation (C66)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-closed-berlin-defense-chigorin-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-closed-berlin-defense-chigorin-variation