Tree path 11 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Ruy Lopez › Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Ruy Lopez: Closed › Chigorin Defense

C97

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense

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Overview

Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C97.

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 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5, after 18 plies of opening development.

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

It continues primarily into one named line, Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense.

In total, the branch covers 11 sub-variations across all depths.

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: C97
Group: Open Games (C)
Plies: 18
Parent: Ruy Lopez: Closed
Direct variations: 1
Total in subtree: 11

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

367,658 games · White 49.5% / Draw 5.9% / Black 44.5%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
Bc2	361,477
d4	5,602
d3	338
a4	167
Bd5	31
a3	23
Na3	8
Rf1	3

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:20:55

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Variations (1)

C96 Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense

Show all 11 sub-variations (full subtree)

Overview

Statistics from Lichess

Variations (1)

Related variations at the same level