Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Quiet Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
12,285 games: White 50.0% / Draw 6.1% / Black 43.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 8,7658,765 | ||
| 2,1432,143 | ||
| 920920 | ||
| 147147 | ||
| 9797 | ||
| 9292 | ||
| 9191 | ||
| 1212 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.23 The position is about equal
Best play: 10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 a5 12. d4 a4 13. Bc2 c5 14. Nf1 Re8 15. Ng3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Quiet Variation (ECO C94, Open Games) is a variation of the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d3 (10 moves).
In 12,285 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 43.9% and 6.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…Nbd7, in 71% of those games.
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How to play against the Ruy Lopez: Closed, Breyer Defense, Quiet Variation
The most played answer, 10…Nbd7, also scores best for Black: 47.7%, with Black winning 44.7% and White 49.2% of 8,765 games. Of the main answers, 10…Bb7 scores lowest: 44.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10…Nbd7.
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: Closed, Breyer Defense, Quiet Variation (C94)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ruy-lopez-closed-breyer-defense-quiet-variation